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Ukraine Won’t Boycott Paralympics in Russia Ukraine Won’t Boycott Paralympics in Russia
(about 4 hours later)
SOCHI, Russia — Citing a desire to promote peace, Ukraine said on Friday that it would compete in the Paralympics instead of withdrawing in protest of Russia’s intervention in the Crimean Peninsula. But the leader of its delegation cautioned that Ukraine would return home if the conflict in Crimea were to intensify. SOCHI, Russia — Citing a desire to promote peace, Ukraine’s delegation to the Paralympics said on Friday that it would compete in the Games instead of withdrawing in protest of Russia’s intervention in the Crimean Peninsula. But the leader of its delegation cautioned that Ukraine would return home immediately if the conflict in Crimea were to intensify.
Valerii Sushkevych, the president of Ukraine’s national Paralympic committee, said he met Thursday night with Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin and pleaded that peace should reign during the Paralympics, which begin with Friday’s opening ceremony and end on March 17. Putin told Sushkevych that he would consider the request. Valerii Sushkevych, the president of Ukraine’s national Paralympic committee, said he met Thursday night with Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, and pleaded that peace should reign during the Paralympics, which begin with Friday’s opening ceremony and end on March 17. Putin told Sushkevych that he would consider the request.
“I am very much afraid that despite striving for peace, during the Paralympic Games we will see something which could not be rectified,” Sushkevych said. Should this happen, he said, Ukraine would leave “at that very second.”“I am very much afraid that despite striving for peace, during the Paralympic Games we will see something which could not be rectified,” Sushkevych said. Should this happen, he said, Ukraine would leave “at that very second.”
“I hope very much that my message has been heard both by the sports community and my Russian colleagues,” Sushkevych said. “I hope very much that I’ve been heard by the president of Russia.”“I hope very much that my message has been heard both by the sports community and my Russian colleagues,” Sushkevych said. “I hope very much that I’ve been heard by the president of Russia.”
Sushkevych acknowledged that the uncertainty has proved distracting for some of his athletes, who have tracked the upheaval at home through the Internet. In a protest, Ukraine sent only the flagbearer of its 23-member team, the Nordic skier Mykhaylo Tkachenko, to take part in the athletes’ parade at Friday’s opening ceremony. Tkachenko emerged in his wheelchair to a roar of apparent support from the crowd. Earlier, the crowd had similarly cheered Putin’s entrance into the stadium.
Sushkevych acknowledged that the uncertainty about their participation has proved distracting for some of his athletes, who have tracked the upheaval at home through the Internet.
“I am very scared, I am under emotional pressure; the emotional storm in the hearts of our athletes is colossal,” said Sushkevych, who added that some members of his team were hesitant to attend Friday’s news conference because they were fearful of crying in public.“I am very scared, I am under emotional pressure; the emotional storm in the hearts of our athletes is colossal,” said Sushkevych, who added that some members of his team were hesitant to attend Friday’s news conference because they were fearful of crying in public.
One athlete who attended was the biathlete Grygorii Vovchynskyi, who said that Ukraine was prepared to compete “with the strongest desire.”One athlete who attended was the biathlete Grygorii Vovchynskyi, who said that Ukraine was prepared to compete “with the strongest desire.”
“We represent our country, a very young country,” he said. “Our country is 22. We are ready to fight for Ukraine, we are ready to demonstrate we are a strong, free and independent people, and we are here to demonstrate we can love life, love sport and love fair competition in all respects.”“We represent our country, a very young country,” he said. “Our country is 22. We are ready to fight for Ukraine, we are ready to demonstrate we are a strong, free and independent people, and we are here to demonstrate we can love life, love sport and love fair competition in all respects.”
There seemed to exist a real chance Thursday night that Ukraine would pull out, when it walked out of its welcoming ceremony, averse to celebrating with tensions escalating back home. At the time, Sushkevych sounded circumspect that a satisfactory resolution would be reached before Friday’s opening ceremony.There seemed to exist a real chance Thursday night that Ukraine would pull out, when it walked out of its welcoming ceremony, averse to celebrating with tensions escalating back home. At the time, Sushkevych sounded circumspect that a satisfactory resolution would be reached before Friday’s opening ceremony.
His true goal, that of peace for his nation, has not been achieved. But he remains hopeful that for the next 10 days, at least, a truce will be honored.His true goal, that of peace for his nation, has not been achieved. But he remains hopeful that for the next 10 days, at least, a truce will be honored.
“We raise the flag for peace,” Sushkevych said, adding, “War and the Olympic and Paralympic ideals cannot be combined.”“We raise the flag for peace,” Sushkevych said, adding, “War and the Olympic and Paralympic ideals cannot be combined.”