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Over 70 athletes from the military to represent Russia in Winter Olympics

In 2014 the Defense Ministry plans to build 39 sporting facilities, including 16 swimming pools and two athletic and health centers

© ITAR-TASS/Artur Lebedev

MOSCOW, December 10. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry expects that the armed forces will be represented by over 70 athletes in Russia’s national team at the Sochi Olympics. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the Defense Ministry session on Tuesday: “Overall, 72 candidates from the military are considered for the Olympics.”

He reminded that four “athletic” companies have been created in the military; a total of 280 athletes are serving in their ranks – all of them are members or candidates of Russian national teams in Olympic events. 32 out of them are candidates for the Russian national team in Sochi Olympics, Shoigu said. He added that in 2014 the Defense Ministry plans to build 39 sporting facilities, including 16 swimming pools and two athletic and health centers.

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