Alors que le fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine The anniversary has just been commemorated, and the International Paralympic Committee has to manage a delicate situation. Following the announcement of the participation of six Russian athletes and four Belarusians Under their national flags in Milan-Cortina, Ukraine and the Czech Republic announced they would boycott the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games on March 6 in Verona. No members of the Ukrainian or Czech delegations will therefore march. Andrew Parsons commented on this news during a press conference In Milan.
« All National Paralympic Committees whose athletes have qualified are invited to participate in the opening ceremony parade. The decision was made to treat the two National Paralympic Committees like any other National Paralympic Committee. Therefore, we have there is no legal way to prevent Russia and Belarus from participating to the parade if they wish, recalls the president of the IPC. Ukraine, like all other participating NOCs, is invited to attend and be present with its flags. For various reasons, NOCs may decide not to attend. We strongly encourage them to attend. In our opinion, the opening ceremony should not be politicizedWe respect and understand different points of view. If they do not wish to participate, we regret it, but we respect it. »
The leader also denounced the opportunism of certain players. Several national Paralympic committees have made statements to the media, and I can cite the Czech Republic's. A few days ago, they announced they would boycott the opening ceremony. In December, at the meeting prior to delegation registration, they had already informed us that they did not wish to attend the opening ceremony, as they were focusing on the sporting performances of the athletes who were to participate in the competitions the following day. "The return of Russia and Belarus follows a vote of the IPC General Assemblywhose members had expressed their support for the end of the suspension of the two national Paralympic committees in September.
