Beijing, Mar 2, Oleg Bogatov. Russian athletes and coaches don't feel what — any negative attitude from representatives of other teams due to their neutral status at the Beijing Paralympics, Pavel Rozhkov, acting president of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC), chief of mission for the team at the Games in Beijing, said on Wednesday. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said that representatives of the national teams of Russia and Belarus will take part in the Paralympic Games in Beijing in a neutral status. Athletes will compete under the IPC flag, their awards will not be taken into account in the unofficial medal standings of the Paralympics. «The IPC decision is very harsh for us, but the main thing is that our guys will take part in the Paralympic Games,» Rozhkov told reporters. «The Russian Paralympic Committee fully accepts decision of the IPC and will implement it. We have already begun to implement the decisions, we are no longer in the tricolor, but in a neutral uniform, we have it as a training uniform. We are forced to remove all the flags and symbols of the RCC from the uniform and carry out an audit in the teams so as not to subject the entire team to harsh punishment. «Our guys are in a fighting, working mood, they are ready to show their maximum results,» the chief of mission added. «There is no negative attitude towards us from the coaches and athletes of other teams. — so that the guys participate and win the medals they deserve.Our athletes will take part in the opening ceremony of the Games, the delegation there will be about 30 people. We will decide on the flag bearers of the team tomorrow.»
