Ukrainian athletes will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games on March 6 in Verona, to protest the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee announced its decision: “The Ukrainian Paralympic Team and the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee boycott the opening ceremony of the 14th Paralympic Winter Games and demand that the Ukrainian flag not be used at the opening ceremony.”
“Outraged by the cynical decision”
He then went on to justify his decision: “The community of Ukrainian Para-Olympians and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine are outraged by the cynical decision of the International Paralympic Committee to award places to Russia and Belarus, allowing 6 Russian and 4 Belarusian athletes to participate in the Winter Paralympics. (…) Russia has today acquired its main status: that of a murderous country, an aggressor and a terrorist. Belarus has clearly established itself as a satellite country of Russian imperial policy. »
Italy also supported Ukraine’s decision through Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. The two men asked the CIP to “reconsider its decision” while expressing their “full solidarity” and their “unconditional support” for Ukraine.
