Winter Paralympics, in maximum tension, coexist with war

Exactly one month ago, the Winter Olympics had its opening ceremony held in a climate of political tension, with symbolic movements by international leaders. This Friday (4), in an environment that goes far beyond tension and symbolism, the Winter Paralympic Games officially opened.

As the flame was lit in the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, China, Ukraine continued to be bombed by Russia. If at the beginning of February there were fears that the stress in the relationship between geopolitical actors could reach greater levels, now there is the inescapable reality of an ongoing war.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the opening and formalized with Chinese President Xi Jinping an alliance against Western policies. This time, as he leads his country through an invasion that began on February 24, the Russian leader did not travel to Beijing. His fellow athletes were not in the stadium either.

The Russians were banned from the competitions, as were the sportsmen from Belarus, Russia’s ally. The CPI (International Paralympic Committee) even announced the permission to these competitors, pointing out that the ban would only be possible after a general assembly. However, under pressure, the entity had to retreat.

Competitors and national committees from several countries were highly critical of the original decision. Thus, the president of the CPI, the Brazilian Andrew Parsons, vetoed Russians and Belarusians “to preserve the integrity of the Games and the safety of all participants”. “Ensuring the safety of athletes is of paramount importance to us”, justified the committee.

It was in this climate that the opening of the Winter Paralympic Games took place, which began in an even more tense political climate than that observed in the Winter Olympic Games. At this Friday’s ceremony, the Ukrainian delegation was one of the most applauded. Celebrated by those present at the Bird’s Nest, some athletes raised their fists as a sign of resistance to the war with Russia.

In the speech that opened the Beijing 2022 Paralympics, Andrew Parsons, who had given a standing ovation for the Ukrainian athletes to enter the stadium, called for peace.

“Tonight I want to start with a message of peace. As the leader of an organization that has inclusion at its core, where diversity is celebrated and differences embraced, I am appalled at what is happening in the world right now. 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy, not war and hatred,” said the Brazilian.

“An opponent doesn’t have to be an enemy. The Paralympic movement calls on world authorities to come together, as athletes do, to promote peace, understanding and inclusion,” continued Parsons, who ended the speech with a “Thank you.” followed by a cry of “Peace!”.

The flag bearers of Brazil were Aline Rocha and Cristian Ribera, both cross-country skiers. Also part of the green-yellow delegation are Guilherme Cruz Rocha, Robelson Moreira Lula and Wesley dos Santos, others who practice cross-country skiing, and André Barbieri, who will be in the snowboard contest.

It is the largest group taken by the country to an edition of the Winter Paralympics. The Brazilians debuted at the 2014 edition, in Sochi, Russia, with two participants. In 2018, in Peyongchang, South Korea, there were three. The number was doubled in Beijing, where the first podium is being sought.

“It’s an immense honor to represent my country at the Games and to be the flag bearer”, said Aline Rocha. The sentiment is shared by Cristian Ribera, who, after experiencing the pride of carrying the symbol of his country, now seeks to be proud of his performance as well. “I know how much I trained, how much I worked. I dream big.”