‘Sign of solidarity’: Belarusian carries Russia’s tricolor into Paralympics opening ceremony
Andrey Fomochkin, a Belarusian team member and former Soviet all-round champion, carried a Russian flag into the Rio Paralympic 2016 opening ceremony. The flag was confiscated by officials.
The Belarusian Sports and Tourism has declined comment on the situation.
“By this gesture the members of the Belarusian delegation expressed solidarity with the Russian Paralympians who were banned from the Rio Games without confirmed evidence to the violations of anti-doping rules and who were penalized with a collective ban,” Aleg Shepel, Chairman of the Belarusian Paralympics Committee, told state-run news agency BelTA.
Russia was banned from competing in the 2016 Paralympic Games due to the doping scandal. The report on Russia’s state-sponsored programme of cheating made by WADA for the World Anti-Doping Agency was taken into account.
Soon after the decision to suspend Russian athletes from competing, the Belarusian delegation promised to support them by carrying the Russian tricolor into the opening ceremony. However, as reported by the Russian media, the IPC plainly forbade the Belarusians to do so saying that such a step would be held as a political gesture
“It is a deed. Our competitor acted in earnest, in a comradely and manly way. If one is to be responsible for such actions, he will take responsibility,” Dzmitry Mironchyk, Spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, said.
The 2016 Paralympic Games are held September in September 7 -18 in Rio de Janeiro.
Andrey Fomochkin, 53 is a world-class athlete, a Soviet champion in the winter all-round, the winner of Games of the Peoples of the USSR (1986). In 2008-2010, he was Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism; in 2010-2012 – Chairman of the Ministry’s Directorate of National Teams.
According to BBC, a fine might be imposed on the Belarusian sports official for his act.
Photo: REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
