The discussion about the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under the country’s flag at the Paralympics dominates the reports before the opening on Friday. The associations are surprised by this.
On Thursday, the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) presented its flag bearers for the opening event of the Paralympics on Friday in Verona at a press conference. Monoskier Anna-Lena Forster and ice hockey player Jörg Wedde will wave the German flags at the celebration. In a video clip, mind you.
This is primarily for practical reasons. The organizers of the celebration decided months ago against the entry of athletes, which is typical at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Even if there had been a “regular” celebration, Forster and Wedde would probably not have traveled to the amphitheater in Verona. The German delegation, including association members and political representatives, is staying away from the opening ceremony out of solidarity with Ukraine.
Boycott by several nations
Shortly before the competitions, the country, which has been suffering from the Russian war of aggression for years, again sharply criticized the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under the country’s flags at the games for the first time. Various nations joined in and announced a boycott of the opening ceremony.
The DBS hesitated for a long time and finally decided on Tuesday to stay away from the celebration. This is when the discussions really took off. The DBS seems surprised that shortly before the games it is hardly about sport, but mainly about politics.
DBS: We have always positioned ourselves clearly
“This is where lifelong dreams come true, this is where athletes have been looking forward to this for many years. In addition to all the critical attitudes that are important, I can now invite you to take a look at Paralympic sport through the competitions,” said DBS board chairman Idriss Gonschinska on Thursday, after previously emphasizing that they had expressed solidarity with Ukraine early on in various statements.
Gonschinska therefore does not share the impression that Germany has changed its attitude by announcing at short notice that it will not attend the opening ceremony. Rather, a “sports policy, legal and emotional” process was important in the decision-making process. The association did not take this step lightly and decided on it in close consultation with the athletes on site in Italy.
Idriss Gonschinska, DBS CEO
IPC justifies decision
The IPC is also surprised by the political discussion in the run-up to the games. Committee President Andrew Parsons on Thursday justified the move to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under the country’s flag again. This was decided by the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee, the highest decision-making body of the IPC.
It was a democratic process carried out in accordance with the procedure set out in the IPC Statute. 177 of our 211 member organizations were present for the vote,” said Parsons in Cortina.
“Surprise that the topic has come to the fore”
The IPC boss added that he knew “that this decision was not well received in some parts of the world.” But he was “surprised by the force of the current criticism because this decision was made four to five months ago. I have explained this in many interviews. So it was actually a surprise that the issue came up again,” said Parsons.
He therefore wanted to emphasize once again “that the IPC is a democratic, global organization whose decisions about the suspension of members are made by its members. We cannot choose when we want to be democratic and when not depending on the outcome of the decisions of the General Assembly,” explained Parsons.
There is a risk of scandal at award ceremonies
The associations do not hide their desire to finally focus on sports shortly before the start of the Paralympics. At the latest if Russian or Belarusian athletes win medals at the same time as Ukrainian athletes, the discussion should catch up again. In some sports the chances of this happening aren’t bad.
Source: with material from sid
