For several days, Russia is effectively ostracized from world sport. However, no official decision has yet been taken regarding the participation of Russian athletes in the Paralympic Games, which begin Friday in Beijing. On Monday, the president of the German Paralympic Committee, Julius Beucher, however declared that he did not want them to participate in the competitions: “I can’t imagine the Russians parading at the opening ceremony”he explained to The world.
Coming out of its traditional neutrality, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had already encouraged, on February 25, the international sports federations to cancel or relocate the sporting events organized in Russia or in Belarus, an ally of Moscow. Believing that these two countries violated the Olympic truce, the IOC also requested that neither the Russian flag nor the Belarusian flag be hoisted at an international sporting event and that the anthems of these two countries not be played.
“When, in very extreme circumstances”implement these measures “is not possible in the short term for organizational or legal reasons, the IOC Executive Board leaves it to the organization concerned to find its own way”depending on the instance, which “reiterated its full support for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Games”. The decision is therefore referred to the International Paralympic Committee, which has planned to speak on Wednesday.
In addition, the Ukrainian delegation is on its way to Beijing to participate in the Paralympic Games. “The Ukrainian national team will fly in full for the Paralympic Games” announced in a tweet the Ukrainian federation, taking up an article published by the national media Suspilne media. “I hope that tomorrow, March 2, we will be in Beijing” said Natalia Garach, communication manager for the Ukrainian team. Twenty-nine athletes, including nine guides, are to represent the country in China.