Scandal. How Belarus brought the Russian flag to the opening of the Paralympic Games

Member of the Belarusian delegation, champion of the 1986 Spartakiad Andrey Fomochkin carried the Russian tricolor during the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He did not give a damn about all the prohibitions and did what he considered necessary, expressing support for the Russian team, which was suspended from the Paralympic Games. Our country expressed gratitude to the courageous athlete, and the International Paralympic Committee threatened sanctions.

Removal is final and irrevocable

Decision on suspension Russian athletes from the Paralympics was adopted on August 7, when the Olympic Games were already in full swing in Rio de Janeiro. Head of the IPC Philip Craven then stated that sports in Russia are completely mired in doping scandals, and Paralympic athletes are victims of the system.

This decision was also facilitated by the report of an independent WADA expert Richard McLaren, who mentioned that the doping tests of our Paralympic athletes were mysteriously disappearing.

In this situation, the IPC decided to suspend the entire Russian team from the Paralympic Games, despite the fact that in a similar situation the IOC did not dare to do the same, and our athletes competed at the Olympics. Attempts to achieve the right to participate in the Paralympic Games through the courts were unsuccessful - both the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Federal Court of Switzerland rejected the claims. As a result, Russian Paralympians participate in competitions specially organized for them in the Moscow region with similar prize money.

Russian flag on the Maracanã

After it became clear that our Paralympic team would not go to Rio de Janeiro, several countries immediately expressed support for the Russian team. The Azerbaijanis refused the licenses that the IPC offered them together with the suspended Russians, and the Belarusians expressed their intention to march with the Russian flag at the opening ceremony. A couple of days after these intentions began to take real shape, Philip Craven forbade them to do this.

But the Russian tricolor appeared on the Maracana. The whole world saw this - Belarusians expressed support for the Russian team. A member of the Belarusian delegation, Andrei Fomochkin, unfurled the Russian flag during the parade of athletes and carried it for about a hundred meters, after which representatives of the organizing committee took the flag from him. The IPC said that this action by Fomochkin has a political connotation and promised a tough response, and the head of the Belarus Paralympic Committee Oleg Shepel stated that “this gesture is a sign of solidarity with the Russians.”

A real man

Andrei Fomochkin was born in Arzamas, but quite early he moved to Belarus - then still a union republic within the USSR. He was studying athletics. At the USSR Spartakiad in 1986 in Tashkent, he won gold medal as part of the 4 x 400 m relay and won silver in the decathlon. In addition, he is the holder of the USSR record in winter track and field all-around (indoor).

After Belarus gained independence, Fomochkin held various positions in commercial and government organizations. He headed the directorate of national teams, before that he was assistant to the Minister of Sports and Tourism of Belarus, and worked as a coach. Here you don’t even need to find out why Fomochkin carried the Russian flag and whether there was an agreement about this within the team. The fact is that this is a real manly act. Not words - but deeds that everyone saw.

Sanctions for the flag

What now awaits Fomochkin and the entire Belarusian national team? Most likely, there will be no sanctions against the team. Otherwise, this will lead to a loud international scandal. The already suspension of the Russian Paralympic team caused a mixed reaction in the world of sports. This is not a matter of ordinary athletes, but of Paralympic athletes. People who overcome difficulties every day.

As for Andrei Fomochkin, he may probably be asked to leave Olympic Village and return to Belarus. In general, all this reminds me of some kind of cheap comedy, which even I refused to take part in Thomas Bach. The IOC President announced that he does not intend to attend the Paralympic Games.

0 February 9, 2018, 3:18 pm

At these very moments the opening ceremony is taking place in Pyeongchang Olympic Games— 2018. And just a few minutes ago, during the traditional parade of athletes, the Russian national team walked in front of an audience of thousands. Under a neutral (Olympic) flag.

At the opening ceremony of the XXIII Winter Games in the Republic of Korea, Russian athletes appeared led by a volunteer who carried a neutral flag (previously, the standard bearer was always one of the athletes, a representative of the Russian team).

It must be said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not only deprived our athletes of the opportunity to march under their native flag, but also carried out a “cleansing” of Russian national symbols at the Games in Pyeongchang on all other fronts - in Korea now there is practically not a single image with a flag to be found Russia.

At the same time, the media note that there is a possibility that the Russian flag will appear at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Olympics. This can happen if the Russian Olympic Committee is restored by the IOC by that time.

What is a neutral (Olympic) flag

The neutral (Olympic) flag is a white canvas, in the center of which is the Olympic symbol in the form of five intertwined rings (blue, yellow, black, green and red), symbolizing the unity of the five continents.

Athletes from countries that have been temporarily deprived of IOC recognition or are in the process of formation compete under this flag. A number of other circumstances are provided for. So, in 2014, under neutral flag due to the suspension of membership of their Olympic committees, the Indian team competed, and in 2016, the Kuwait team.

There have been cases where athletes of their own free will (usually due to political reasons) tried to take part in the Olympics under a neutral flag, but the IOC rejected their requests.

Why Russia passed under a neutral flag

ABOUT doping scandal and, perhaps, everyone has already heard about Russia, which found itself in its center.

In early December last year, the International Olympic Committee decided to disqualify Olympic Committee Russia and the admission to the Games of only “clean” Russian athletes.

Russians' opinion

The majority of Russians, 48 percent, supported participation Russian team at the Pyeongchang Olympics under a neutral flag. In particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin shares this opinion.

We, without any doubt, will not declare any blockade, we will not prevent our Olympians from taking part if any of them wants to take part in a personal capacity,

Putin said, noting that the athletes “have been moving toward this competition throughout their entire lives.”

However, 34 percent of respondents still said that the Games should be boycotted.

Photo Gettyimages.ru

At these very minutes, the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Games is taking place in Pyeongchang. And just a few minutes ago, during the traditional parade of athletes, the Russian team walked in front of an audience of thousands. Under a neutral (Olympic) flag.

Russian team at the 2018 Olympics

It must be said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not only deprived our athletes of the opportunity to march under their native flag, but also carried out a “cleansing” of Russian national symbols at the Pyeongchang Games on all other fronts - in Korea now there is practically not a single image with a flag to be found Russia.

What is a neutral (Olympic) flag

Athletes from countries that have been temporarily deprived of IOC recognition or are in the process of formation compete under this flag. A number of other circumstances are provided for. Thus, in 2014, the Indian team competed under a neutral flag due to the suspension of the membership of their Olympic committees, and in 2016, the Kuwait team.

There have been cases where athletes of their own free will (usually due to political reasons) tried to take part in the Olympics under a neutral flag, but the IOC rejected their requests.

Why Russia passed under a neutral flag

Perhaps everyone has already heard about the doping scandal and Russia, which was at its center.

In early December last year, the International Olympic Committee decided to disqualify the Russian Olympic Committee and admit only “clean” Russian athletes to the Games.

Russians' opinion

The majority of Russians, 48 percent, supported the participation of the Russian team in the Olympics in Pyeongchang under a neutral flag. In particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin shares this opinion.

We, without any doubt, will not declare any blockade, we will not prevent our Olympians from taking part if any of them wants to take part in a personal capacity,

Putin said, noting that the athletes “have been moving toward this competition throughout their entire lives.”

However, 34 percent of respondents still said that the Games should be boycotted.