Paralympics Open Amid Controversy and War
Image Source: Internet
The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics kicked off on Friday with an opening ceremony marked by Russian athletes being booed as they paraded behind their national flag for the first time since 2014.
Despite Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee allowed six Russian athletes and four from their allies Belarus to represent their countries, accompanied by their national flags.
The move sparked a major backlash with Ukraine, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland boycotting the ceremony.
IPC president Andrew Parsons justified the decision by citing the vote taken by the organisation's General Assembly last September.
Parsons said, 'In a world where some countries are better known by the names of their leaders, I prefer to know countries by the names of their athletes.'
The ceremony started with a drumming performance from Stewart Copeland of The Police, followed by a stripped-back performance of the national anthem of Italy.
The athletes parade got underway flanked by volunteers, with the Russian delegation of four athletes being booed by sections of the spectators and some volunteers.
The boycotting nations were represented by two volunteers carrying the countries' flags but no athletes or dignitaries paraded with them.
The Paralympics follow the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics that closed on February 22.
Athletes will compete in six different sports spread across three sites in the north of Italy until March 15.
