The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Athletes paraded through Beijing’s national stadium as the Winter Paralympics opened March 4 after a storm of controversy surrounding the banning of Russian and Belarusian athletes due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The lead-up to the Games was marred by high tension in the athletes’ village, threats of competition boycotts and an eleventh-hour reversal by organizers of a previous decision to let Russian athletes and those from ally Belarus compete as neutrals.
But focus returned to the Game when Chinese President Xi Jinping officially declared the Games open and a fireworks display erupted over the Beijing’s “Bird’s Nest” stadium.
Hundreds of athletes from dozens of countries waved flags in a procession through the venue, which had only carefully-chosen domestic spectators on hand due to Covid rules.
The sound and light show capped off a week of high drama and wrangling among officials on the sidelines.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged sporting federations across the world to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus after Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine prompted worldwide condemnation.
Paralympic organisers said the “harshest punishment” they could administer was to force athletes from those countries to compete as neutrals.
But that decision was reversed less than 24 hours later after multiple teams and athletes threatened not to compete if Russia and Belarus were represented.
This was “jeopardising the viability” of the Games, organisers said as they announced the ban, citing safety concerns and a volatile mood in the athletes’ village.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons made a forceful speech during the opening ceremony, calling for the Games to promote peace and sporting excellence.
“The 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy, not war and hate,” he said, adding the Olympic truce for peace must not be violated.
“Here in Beijing, paralympic athletes from 46 different nations will compete with each other, not against each other.
“Through sport, they will showcase the best of humanity and highlight the values that should underpin a peaceful and inclusive world.”
He shouted “peace” at the end of his impassioned speech, before President Xi formally declared the event open.
After a harrowing journey to Beijing — narrowly escaping bombings in their war-torn homeland — Ukraine team members cut solemn figures as they entered the stadium behind biathlete and cross-country skier Maksym Yarovyi, carrying his country’s flag.
Parsons gave the team a standing ovation as they passed his seat.
Earlier in the staging area, Ukrainian athletes unveiled banners that said “stop war,” and repeatedly chanted “peace for Ukraine”. Some shed tears as they received hugs from competitors from other nations.
The Ukraine delegation said it had been overwhelmed with solidarity in Beijing, and the team’s top official declared earlier this week it was a “miracle” they made it to the competition.