Belarusians will not be punished for Russian flag, but Fomachkin lost accreditation


According to the spokesman of the International Paralympic Committee Craig Spence, there will be no sanctions for the Belarusian team for carrying the Russian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games.

“This is about a guest in the delegation of the Belarusian team. This is an individual protest. We regard it so, thus we have applied sanctions only to this man — his accreditation has been withdrawn.

In our view, the question is closed. Today we have spoken with the Paralympic Committee of Belarus and told them that rules are rules. Political protests are prohibited at the Paralympic Games. If they continue these protests, we will think about further measures,” said Spence.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports’ statement said that the decision about carrying the Russian flag at the Paralympics was taken by the whole team.

At the opening ceremony, the Russian flag was unfolded by Andrei Fomachkin (53-year-old sports functionary, director of the Republican Center of Olympic preparation in athletics) in solidarity with the Russian Paralympians who had not been admitted to the Games. Later the flag was taken away from him.

belsat.eu by.tribuna.com

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