28 August 2008, Moscow, Russia - The President and CEO of Sochi 2014, Dmitry Chernyshenko, today took part in the official send-off for the Russian Paralympic team travelling to Beijing to compete in the XIII Paralympic Games.

A record number of Paralympians — around 4,000 — will take part in the world’s largest disability sport event.

The Russian National Paralympic Team will compete in 13 different Paralympic sports, demonstrating the high and growing popularity of sport in Russia for people with disabilities.

In August 2008, Russia confirmed its intention to join the UN Convention for the Rights of People with Disabilities — the first universal international legislation to guarantee a dedicated set of rights for disabled people.

The Chairman of the Council of the Russian Federation, Sergei Mironov; Russia’s Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Politics, Vitaly Mutko; the President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Leonid Tyagachev; and Olympic champions, Alexander Karelin, Maria Kiseleva and Alexander Popov, also attended the send-off.

The President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said: «The Paralympic Games are an inspiration to millions of people around the world. There are many sports shared with the Olympic Games and unique disciplines that I’m really looking forward to seeing live in Beijing. We have our fingers crossed for some great Russian performances and new records in China.

«I was privileged to see a fantastic Olympic Games in August and there is no doubt that the Paralympic Games will be organised to the same high standards by our Chinese counterparts. The Sochi 2014 team will return to Beijing to study in detail the way the Chinese host the Games as part of the IOC Observer Program, so we can learn for the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.

«It is very important for us to organize an inspirational Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi to deliver an incredible legacy for Russia and the whole Paralympic Movement, contributing greatly to the active integration of people with disabilities to society.»

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