Ukraine accuses IPC of systemic pressure' and pro-Russian bias at Winter Paralympics

"The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine and the national Paralympic team of Ukraine, its athletes, and coaches have been subjected to systematic pressure from representatives of the International Paralympic Committee and the Organising Committee of the Games."

"There are systemic and unprecedented manifestations of pressure from representatives of the IPC in relation to the Ukrainian team. Obviously, there appears the impression of an incomprehensible and very special partnership of the IPC with the NPCs of Russia and Belarus."

"Never before have our team and the leaders of the team headquarters experienced such openly negative manifestations and even obstacles in relation to Ukrainians as representatives of the National Paralympic Committee."

Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee has filed four specific allegations against the International Paralympic Committee and Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics organizers, claiming systematic pressure to reduce Ukrainian presence at the Games. The allegations include forced removal of the Ukrainian national flag from team headquarters, requiring a gold medalist para biathlete to remove earrings bearing the national flag and anti-war message before competing, confiscating flags from spectators watching Ukrainian athletes, and disrupting tactical team meetings. Ukraine states this represents unprecedented mistreatment in 30 consecutive years of Paralympic participation and suggests a problematic partnership between the IPC and the national committees of Russia and Belarus.

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