The message reads, in part:
“You have a very important task ahead of you, to represent the honour of our country at the 10th Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, in which more than 40 countries will be participating.
Many of you achieved impressive results in Turin, ensuring Russia’s national team first place overall there.
I am convinced that the professionalism of our trainers and the skill and true competitive spirit of our athletes can help our team reaffirm its status as one of the strongest in the world, and of course enable it to delight its many supporters by virtue of its splendid achievements.”