Turin mayor Serge Kyamparino solemnly carried Olympic torch around municipal square on the threshold of 10-day Paralympic Games for sportsmen-invalids.

Participants of competitions arrive to capital of Piemonte. Opening ceremony will be headed by Italian president Carlo Adzelio Champi. The same day session of International Paralympic commission will be held in Turin.

Paralympic Games are held since 1988. Russia will participate for 5-th time. 29 Russian sportsmen-invalids will take part in Turin competitions. 486 athletes from 39 countries handed in applications, Mongolian sportsmen will make their debut.

On the eve of Games Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Aleksey II blessed Russian sportsmen-invalids, who will perform in Turin. President of Paralympic commission, human rights commissioner Vladimir Lukin met with Patriarch in official residence in Svyato-Danilov monastery. Appealing to Paralympians Aleksey II expressed the hope that Russia will demonstrate good results and Russian sport will prove its strength to the world.
sections: Sport