Russia has said the decision by US and European leaders to skip the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi will not come as a blow to the country.
Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov said the absence of leaders would have no impact on the Games.
According to CNN, US President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and German President Joachim Gauck are a few high-profile leaders who will stay away from the winter Games but Zhukov isn't concerned.
Zhukov, Russia's former deputy prime minister, said that the point is the competition and not that 20 or 30 leaders come to the opening ceremony.
