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Russian athletes lived up to nation's hopes at Olympics - Putin

MOSCOW. Aug 29 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin said that Russian athletes lived up to the nation's hopes at the Olympic Games in Athens, the Kremlin press service told Interfax on Sunday.

Putin's message to the Russian national team on the occasion of the closure of the Olympics in Athens says: "This striking and long-awaited athletic festival, the 28th Olympic Games, became an unforgettable event of truly worldwide significance. In the days of the Games, in Russia millions of people also followed the intense competition and breathtaking matches with great interest. We felt for our Olympic athletes, we looked forward to successful performances and took joy in your achievements."

"You lived up to these hopes," the message says.

"The competitions taking place in Greece, the homeland of the Olympic Games, brought true leaders of modern sports to the arena. Once again we saw that our athletes hold a worthy place on the glorious team of champions and record-breakers. You demonstrated rare skill, a tremendous will to win and many examples of courage, selflessness and patriotism. The 28th Olympic Games brought brilliant athletic victories to Russia in which we can take pride," the message says.

"I am sure that you will not stop at what has been achieved, but will carry on the best traditions of the Olympic movement," Putin's message says.