The IPC confirmed its intention to hold the Winter Paralympics according to the previously approved plan, despite the military conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, the organization assured the public that it continues to collect and process information coming from the Gulf region to determine the extent of its possible impact on the sporting event and the global Paralympic movement as a whole.
“The situation in the Middle East is affecting some of the participants”
The Paralympic organizers, together with the IPC, are in close contract with all delegations going to the Games and all stakeholders.
“We have a clear and explicit goal to deliver the Winter Paralympic Games in the best possible way so that they continue to serve as a platform for social inclusion for the 1.3 billion people with physical and mental disabilities around the world. Many teams are already in Europe for training camps, but airspace closures in the Middle East are affecting the arrival of some participants. At this stage we would prefer not to comment on the status of individual delegations or participants, but can assure the public that we are working hard to find solutions for those affected,” said a communiqué released by the IPC.
Soon to be opened … without Moldova
The opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games will be held in the evening of March 6 in the ancient amphitheater in Verona, where the On February 22, took place the closing ceremony XXV Winter Olympic Games.
About 700 athletes with physical and mental disabilities will take part in the Paralympics, competing for 79 sets of medals in six disciplines. The athletes come from about 50 countries, among which Moldova is not one.
A number of countries announced a boycott of the opening ceremony due to protests against the admission to the Paralympics of representatives from Russia and Belarus, who are allowed to compete under the flag and anthem. Italy (the organizer), Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy (the organizer), Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic States have joined the boycott announced by Ukraine. The EU leadership also expressed dissatisfaction with the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Concerns about the possibility of postponing the Winter Olympics appeared after the aggravated situation in the Middle East, caused by the announcement of a full-scale war on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. This has caused many flights to be canceled from the countries that are in the epicenter of the conflict – Iran, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Israel.
