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≡ UKRAINE PROTESTS ≡
The International Paralympic Committee will not allow the Ukrainian Paralympic team to wear a ceremonial uniform which depicts a map of the country, showing its internationally-recognized borders from 1991, before the Russian invasion of the Crimea as well as the 2022 invasion.
Ukraine National Paralympic Committee President Valerii Sushkevych explained in an interview:
“The International Paralympic Committee said: ‘No, no, no – it won’t work like that!’ They said that this uniform was political. And they said that no one would allow us to go out in such a uniform. This uniform was very beautiful, very symbolic and very emphatically ‘shouted’ that there is Ukraine in the world, in Europe, with all its territories without occupation by Russia. …
“We barely had time to make a new uniform, barely had time. We urgently took this new uniform by bus to Italy, where our entire team is already located. And we could have dressed the boys and girls here in the uniform that was already ready, but they banned us from using it.”
Sushkevych said that the map design is a reaction to the increasing acceptance of Russian athletes back into international competitions, and that the continuing aggression against Ukraine must be remembered.
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The Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee also posted a long message to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, thanking her for her support of Ukraine and noting with regard to the Winter Paralympic Games beginning Friday:
● “As of today, the Paralympic Committees of Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada and the Netherlands have declared a boycott of the Opening Ceremony. The Government of Croatia declared a boycott of the official events of the Paralympics.”
● “The National Paralympic Team of Ukraine and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine with gratitude and respect received the information that the Government of Italy, which you head, expressed resolute objection to the IPC decision on the admission of russian and belarusian sports entities to the Paralympic Games 2026 with permission to use their national symbolism, including anthems.”
The message makes an argument that the admission of Russian athletes is against the International Paralympic Committee rules because Ukrainian territory is being occupied and states:
“According to Article 12.3.1 of the IPC Constitution a National Paralympic Committee has the right to enter its athletes only under condition of compliance with the Constitution and regulations of the IPC.
“IN CASE OF SYSTEMATIC VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF TERRITORIAL EXCLUSIVITY THE RIGHT OF THE NPC TO ENTER ATHLETES IS LEGALLY UNLAWFUL!”
In the end, the message asks, “NOT TO ALLOW THE STATE AND POLITICAL IDENTIFICATION OF RUSSIA, WHICH, CONTRARY TO THE AFOREMENTIONED LEGAL NORMS, REPRESENTS THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE AT THE WORLD SPORTING EVENT.”
The International Paralympic Committee’s General Assembly re-admitted Russia and Belarus as full members last September, so the request by the Ukrainian NPC is unlikely to go anywhere.
But the Ukrainians are making their presence felt and their cause known however they can, first with Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych’s “memory helmet” at the Olympic Winter Games and now with their uniform attempt and appeal to the Italian Prime Minister for the Winter Paralympic Games.
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