Russian athletes say their team has an even bigger passion to win now that the Winter Olympics have officially begun -- despite members of their team dramatically being barred from competing. The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently rejected appeals from 42 Russian athletes who are suspected of doping - and refused to clear the way for them to compete in South Korea. Now it is down to a younger and less experienced generation to carry Russia's hopes. Dan Ashby reports.

The countdown to the Games is over, and finally time ran out too for Russia's top athletes. With just hours to go, a court decided the International Olympic Committee was within its rights not to invite 42 Russians suspected of doping.

MATTHIEU REEB, SECRETARY GENERAL COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT "The CAS arbitrators have considered that the process created by the IOC to establish an invitation list of Russian athletes to compete as Olympic athletes from Russia could not be described as a sanction, but rather as an eligibility decision."

Among those not invited were many of Russia's best chances at gold. At the opening of their fan zone, there was an air of defiance.

MAXIM TRANKOV FORMER RUSSIAN PAIRS FIGURE SKATER "Some athletes didn't come this time. They will come some other time. They will be stronger.They are all Russian patriots, all athletes will skate for Russia."

For a country in the thralls of these games, it is a blow. Sports fans must settle for a younger generation of athletes who have been cleared to go - but who will compete as individuals only.

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "Russians love winter sports: parks like this are packed at weekends with skaters and cross-country skiers, and they're the crucibles of the next generation of competitors. So the idea of the best Russians not being invited to the Games is met with either disappointment - or outrage."

In my opinion, it's awful when politics comes into sports and prevent people who spend many years preparing for compete.

"It's very great when I can see gold in my country. So I'm very upset about it. (Reporter: Do Russians care about the Winter Olympics?) Of course, they really do. We are almost crying.

The Government accuses the IOC of targeting Russia for political reasons. They may even hold an alternative games in March. But they can do nothing about PyeongChang now. And sports fans may hope the only fireworks left, will be the ones to celebrate winning medals. DA, CGTN, Moscow.