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Moscow - Russia is to send 436 athletes to the London Olympics, slightly fewer than the Beijing 2008 contingent, Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov announced Tuesday.
The final figure was confirmed after a meeting among Russian Olympic Committee and sports ministry officials.
Competing under the Russian flag will be 228 women and 208 men from 59 of the country’s 83 regions, Zhukov said.
“The Russian team is totally prepared,” he said.
At the Beijing Games, Russia had 468 representatives, with 453 in Athens four years earlier.
Russia has set the target of third in the medal table, expecting to battle with host nation Britain for the position.
Team GB will be represented by 542 athletes.
Meanwhile, the total Russian delegation, including coaches, masseurs and other specialists is 805-strong, Zhukov said.
Zhukov is a deputy prime minister who was appointed president of the national Olympic committee in 2010.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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