Boycott threats, tensions between athletes, reversal of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) which finally excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes: the flame of the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing was lit on Friday, while a huge controversy was just turned off the day before.
” Peace ! “. It was with this cry that IPC President Andrew Parsons concluded his opening speech at the 13th edition of the Paralympic Games, which began on Friday, nearly a week after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The ceremony opened with an animation of planet Earth to present the previous editions of the Games, under the eyes of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and in the absence of Russian and Belarusian athletes. But well with the Ukrainians, who presented themselves with their fists raised in the stadium to the somewhat more sustained applause of the public and enthusiastic from the president of the CIP.
“Our presence at the Paralympics is not insignificant. It is a symbol that Ukraine was, is and will remain a country,” said Valeriy Sushkevych, the president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, whose representatives had to cross Europe by bus in order to fly to China. .
The Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in Russia’s exclusion from numerous sporting competitions, including the 2022 Soccer World Cup, following an appeal by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
And politics caught up with the Paralympics (March 4-13). The CIP, which had authorized Russian and Belarusian athletes on Wednesday to compete under a neutral flag, changed its mind the next day, a reversal justified by the fact that “teams and athletes are threatening not to participate”.
message of peace
“The 21st century is made for dialogue and diplomacy, not for war and hatred. The Olympic Truce for Peace during the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a UN resolution adopted by consensus by 193 Member States during the 76th UN General Assembly. It should be respected and observed, not violated,” said Andrew Parsons.
The Russian and Belarusian absence contrasts with the Winter Olympics in Beijing just a month ago: the Russians, numerous and applauded, marched in front of their president, Vladimir Putin, guest of honor.
Sanctioned for several years for institutionalized doping, Russia cannot send athletes to compete under its flag in major international competitions.
Russian leaders cannot theoretically attend these events, except at the invitation of the head of state of the host country… which Xi Jinping had done for Vladimir Putin.
The two countries had published a joint statement on this occasion, which had sealed a level of friendship never reached and expressed their common position against NATO and American influence in Asia-Pacific.
The daily New York Times also claims that China had asked Russia to delay its invasion until the end of the Olympics on February 20. Allegations firmly denied by Beijing.
” A shame “
If the Paralympic committees of many countries approved the reversal of the IPC, Moscow denounced “a monstrous situation” and “a shame”, promising to take sports justice.
In China, host country of the Games, Internet users were divided.
“Why weren’t American athletes excluded when the United States invaded Iraq and Afghanistan? asks a user of the Weibo social network.
Conversely, “those who start a war during the Olympic truce must be severely punished,” wrote another.
In total, the event brings together 564 athletes from around forty countries, who will compete on Saturday in six sports (biathlon, wheelchair curling, sledge hockey, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding).
564 athletes who “will compete with each other” and who “through sport will show the best of humanity”, Parsons notably underlined. And it was four-time track and field gold medalist Li Duan who lit the flame.
Canada has sent 49 athletes to China, who will compete in hockey, curling, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding over the next 10 days.
Like the Olympics, this meeting takes place in a health bubble to avoid a leak of the coronavirus elsewhere in China: the fear of the authorities, who apply a zero COVID strategy.