BEIJING, March 2. /TASS/. Russian paralympians will take part in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games, Acting President of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) Pavel Rozhkov said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"Our athletes will take part in the opening ceremony, there will be 26 of them. We will pick flag bearers tomorrow," he said.

The Paralympics opening ceremony is scheduled for March 4. Russian paralympians will participate in the Games as neutrals under the flag of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

"I would like to refrain from making detailed comments on the IPC’s decision in order not to harm our athletes with my remarks," Rozhkov noted. "Our guys are prepared well, our sledge ice hockey players and biathlon para athletes have been waiting for the Games for eight years as they were planned to take part in the Paralympics in South Korea," he added.

Russian paralympians were initially expected to compete in Beijing under the RPC’s flag due to the sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The Beijing Paralympic Games will be held on March 4-13.