With just days to go until the Beijing Olympics begin, a steady stream of Russian athletes are departing from Moscow's Sheremetevo airport on board a customised jet. The Aeroflot Boeing 767-300 is adorned with a red swirling plumage to resemble the mystic

The plane hops daily between Beijing and Moscow, ferrying up to 218 Russian Olypmic participants and official representatives to the Games. On Friday evening the national volleyball and rowing teams left on its maiden flight.

The Fire-bird was chosen as a powerful symbol from Russian legend which also resonates with Chinese tradition. In Slavic folklore, it was a majestic bird whose feathers glowed a bright red. When the bird sang, pearls dropped from its beak, and the melody could heal the sick and restore sight to the blind. In many fairy tales it was the object of a perilous quest, and if a young man could capture the bird he was promised the hand of a beautiful princess in marriage.