Russian Olympic team to be blessed for Vancouver games on Thursday

MOSCOW, January 28 (Itar-Tass) - A farewell ceremony for the Russian
national team travelling to the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver will be
held at the Moscow Church of Christ the Saviour on Thursday.
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, the minister for sports,
tourism and youth affairs, Vitaly Mutko, and President of the Russian
Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev will be present at the ceremony.
A prayer for successful performance of Russian athletes will be said
after all the official speeches are over.
The Russian national team consists of 175 athletes and all of them,
including coaches and doctors, are expected to be present in the church.
A tradition to bless Russian athletes for Olympic games dates back to
1996. However, an official farewell ceremony will be held in Russia's main
church for the first time. Four years ago the Russian national team was
seen off for the Olympics in Turin near the Eternal fire in the Alexander
garden near the Kremlin wall.
The 21st Winter Olympic Games will be held in the Canadian Vancouver
on February 12-28. Russian athletes will compete in 15 sports.

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