Russian president blesses Paralympic team

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met the Paralympic team and wished them success at the games in London. He warned them that the competition will be hard, but Russian athletes showed success at the games in Beijing in 2008 and half of the team got prizes.

Paralympic athletes pointed out improvements in training conditions in the last years, as stated by Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee.

Over 270 people were invited for the honorary ceremony at the Kremlin. They include 163 athletes, over 40 medics, translators and coaches. Putin was presented with the symbol of the Russian Paralympic Committee. He left an autograph on the Russian flag athletes will take to London.

London will host the 14th Paralympic Games on August 29. Russia will compete in 12 types of sports.