29.01 Russia Sends Record Number of Paralympians to Sochi Games

MOSCOW, January 29 (R-Sport) – Winter Paralympic host nation Russia will send its largest-ever team to Sochi in March, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Wednesday.

In Sochi, 67 Paralympians will compete for Russia, twice as many as four years ago in Vancouver, when Russia finished second to Germany in the medal table with 12 gold medals.

“The delegation consists of 195 people, including 78 athletes, 11 of whom are guides, and 117 coaches,” Mutko said. “I hope the preparation stage went well and we may hope for a successful performance.”

Mutko refused to set a target for Russia's Paralympians, much as he did for the country's Olympic team a week earlier.

“It’s wrong to set tasks for the Paralympic team, and we don't do that," Mutko said. "In recent years, we are leading in many sports, but the competition is very high and the struggle for medals will be serious.”

All in all, 692 athletes from 47 countries are expected to compete in Sochi in five sports: Alpine skiing, biathlon, sledge hockey and wheelchair curling.

The 11th Paralympic Winter Games will be held from March 7 to 16.