Published: 1 August, 2008, 17:07
Edited: 1 August, 2008, 17:07
The first plane carrying the Russian Olympic team to Beijing leaves Moscow on Friday night. Almost 500 athletes will represent the country in 244 different disciplines.
Their departure has been marred by the five women track and field athletes who were suspended from competing in Beijing after they were found to have tampered with doping tests.
Tennis star Maria Sharapova will miss out because of a shoulder injury.