Winter Paralympics open in Beijing without Russia
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The Winter Paralympics opened today in Beijing with the Russian athletes sent home and the Ukrainian team escaping a war zone to get to China.
A Ukrainian team member in a wheelchair carried the country’s now widely known blue and yellow flag at the head of a 20-person delegation entering the Bird’s Nest. Chinese President Xi Jinping, wearing a red face mask to protect against the coronavirus, attended the opening.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shortly after the Winter Olympics wrapped up in Beijing, is roiling the world and the world of sports is no exception.
Paralympic organizers initially announced that Russians and Belarusians would be allowed to compete in Beijing, but reversed course one day before the opening and expelled athletes from both countries.
About 564 athletes, of which 138 are women, are competing in the Paralympics. China has the largest team, with 96 competitors, followed by the United States with 65. The Paralympics includes six sports – Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, hockey, snowboarding and curling.
The 10-day Paralympics closes on the 13th of this month.
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