RUSSIA: WINTER OLYMPICS - Ceremony held in Moscow ahead of Russian Olympic team's departure for Turin Winter Olympics

Record ID: 331939

  • Title: RUSSIA: WINTER OLYMPICS - Ceremony held in Moscow ahead of Russian Olympic team's departure for Turin Winter Olympics
  • Date: 3rd February 2006
  • Summary: CLOSE-UP: TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1G2PFODUSE7LB0O7IW7Z0B0J9
  • Story Text: A day before Russian Olympic Team is due to depart for Turin Winter Olympics, a farewell ceremony for the athletes was held in the heart of Moscow.
    The team members and the leadership of the Russian Olympic Committee have laid flowers to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.The ceremony was followed by the religious ceremony at a small church on the Red Square, where priest has blessed the athletes.
    Later at the Russia's largest and oldest department store, located on the Red Square, the official farewell ceremony was held.
    Svetlana Zhurova, world champion in speed skating was handed team's banner. "I guarantee and I believe and I am 100 percent sure that every athlete will do his best and will give everything to the last drop of his blood to the victory"- said Svetlana Zhurova addressing her teammates.
    For the past years Russian athletes have lost the privileges and status of older days. They do not have the hi-tech training facilities. Many athletes live and work abroad but participate as Russian athletes during such International competitions
    Head of the Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev says his hopes for the coming Olympics are high.
    And though state funds for sports are drying up Russia can still turn out world beating athletes by the dozen. And it intends to prove that in the coming Olympics.
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