Russia and Belarus welcome the act of a member of the Belarusian delegation Andrei Fomochkin, who carried the Russian flag at the opening of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Recall that the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro took place on September 7 at the Maracana stadium. During the parade of athletes, one of the representatives of the Belarusian delegation unfurled a flag at the stadium. The athlete walked with him for about a quarter of the circle, after which the flag was confiscated by the organizers.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova called the act of the Belarusian heroism.
“Let me make a few remarks not as an official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, but simply as a person. We have a hero today. Heroes can be different, today for us this is a man who in Rio, at the opening of the Paralympic Games, took out the Russian flag in honor of those who vilely and inhumanly were not allowed to the Paralympics. Such things are not forgotten,” said Zakharova, opening the traditional briefing.
The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also invited representatives of the British edition of the Guardian to Russia to meet with Paralympic athletes after journalists said that the appearance of the Russian flag at the opening of the Paralympics spoiled the good mood of the event.
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov believes that Fomochkin's act is admirable.
“Certainly, this is an act. What the Belarusian Paralympic athletes have done is admirable. And, of course, we highly appreciate such a manifestation of solidarity with our Paralympic athletes, who were completely undeservedly and unfairly deprived of the opportunity to compete at the Paralympics,” Peskov told reporters.
The presidential press secretary also commented on the initiative of the vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee, who proposed to award the Belarusian athlete with the Order of Friendship.
“I can’t say yet, I don’t know, but on the other hand, if the vice president thinks so, then he has every opportunity to come up with such an initiative,” Peskov said.
The head of the Russian Paralympic Committee, Vladimir Lukin, thanked Fomochkin and said that Russia would never forget the gesture of the Belarusian athletes and would continue to "pay with the same coin."
“I am yet to find out whether it was an action of the Belarusian committee or an individual athlete, but in any case, I welcome and thank my Belarusian colleagues. We are always friends with them,” he said.
The position of the Paralympic team of Belarus, which organized the action with the removal of the flag, is shared by the leadership of this country.
“This initiative of the delegation of the Paralympic Committee of Belarus, this position is shared by the leadership of the country. This is the state position too,” said the press secretary of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Natalya Eismont.
The International Olympic Committee (IPC), meanwhile, is outraged by such an act. The sports organization is currently deciding on sanctions on this issue.
In addition, a flash mob was launched on Facebook in support of suspended Russian Paralympic athletes. Users of the social network are going to not go online on September 18 due to the fact that our Paralympic athletes did not enter the arena in Rio on September 7.
Earlier, the head of the Paralympic Committee of Belarus, Oleg Shepel, called the removal of Russian athletes from the Games the most wrong step in the history of the Paralympic movement. He also said that at the opening ceremony he would unfurl the Russian flag on the podium. In response, the IPC said they would regard such a gesture as a "political protest" and take "certain measures."
The Russian team was suspended from the 2016 Paralympic Games after the report of the commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which speaks without evidence of the “doping system at the state level” existing in the Russian Federation. Later, individual claims of athletes for a decision were rejected in various instances.
The Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will last until September 18. The Russian team holds its own competitions on September 8–9 in the Moscow region.
As you know, the Russian team was not allowed to the Paralympics, but this did not prevent the national tricolor from flashing at the opening ceremony of the Games. Belarusian neighbors helped, during the parade of athletes they carried not only their own flag, but also the Russian one.
However, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) did not appreciate this gesture and launched an investigation against the Belarusian delegation.
Press Association journalist Matt McGeehan later tweeted that the identity of the athlete who carried the flag had been established and the tricolor itself was confiscated.
“As I understand it, the member of the Belarusian national team who carried the Russian flag [at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics] has been identified. The flag has been confiscated. The IPC decides how to proceed in this situation.”
McGeehan wrote.
In Russia, the deed of the Belarusians was appreciated. Three-time Olympic champion in pair skating, Irina Rodnina, now considers her neighbors "brothers," and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the man who carried the flag a hero.
Later, the name of the "hero" became known. It turned out to be not a Paralympic athlete, but the director of the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Athletics Andrei Fomochkin.
President of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) Vladimir Lukin said that he would never forget the deed of the Belarusians.
“I can only thank our Belarusian colleague, an athlete whose name I, unfortunately, do not know yet. In this difficult time, he remembered us, about justice, about the fact that politics should not interfere with sports competitions. Especially in the Paralympic, which have a special humane meaning.
It's great that the Belarusians remembered the closest country, Russia.
We will not forget this and will continue to pay in the same coin. I will find out whether it was an action of the committee of Belarus or an individual athlete, but in any case, I welcome and thank my Belarusian colleagues. We are always friends with them, ”TASS quotes Lukin.
It should be reminded that from the very beginning the Belarusian delegation planned to carry the Russian flag at the opening ceremony.
“As the head of the Paralympic Committee of Belarus, I am not going to remain silent either here or in Brazil. I even instructed to take Belarusian and, definitely, Russian flags to the opening of the Games in Rio. I will definitely have them there, ”said Oleg Shepel, chairman of the Paralympic Committee of Belarus.
However, the IPC forbade the team to demonstrate the national tricolor, referring to the fact that Russia does not take part in the Paralympics, and, accordingly, its flag should not be.
Otherwise, the committee promised to consider such an act as a “political protest” and impose serious sanctions on the Belarusians.
After that, Shepel softened the rhetoric, explaining that he was misunderstood. True, the functionary was still going to take the tricolor to the guest box.
“As for the Russian flag, my previous words were misunderstood or interpreted. Do not confuse sports with politics. The official delegation, which will enter the Marakana stadium, will carry the national flag of Belarus. And no other,” said Shepel.
However, in the end, the Belarusians carried the Russian flag, which means that the entire delegation may face serious punishment up to suspension from the Games, although this option looks unlikely. But Fomochkin, who carried the flag, can really leave Rio.
As for the Russian Paralympic athletes, they will demonstrate their abilities at the "alternative games" in the Moscow region, which were also opened the day before. The ceremony took place in the Moscow "Crocus City Hall".
The Russian Government has already promised to financially encourage domestic athletes.
“The government of the country has decided to encourage our Paralympic athletes in the same way as if you competed at the Paralympic Games in Rio. If you show the results that correspond to the world level at which you are ready, - said the Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko, addressing the participants of the "alternative games". —
I would like to say that we regret that it turns out that today we do not take part in a big sports festival, a sports festival. But I am sure that these are temporary difficulties, the RCC, the entire world sports movement will very quickly do the work to return us to the big Paralympic family.”
Recall that Russia does not participate in the Paralympic Games - 2016 due to the temporary suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RCC) based on the report of the independent WADA commission on state support for doping in the country.
You can get acquainted with other news, materials and statistics at Rio 2016, as well as in the groups of the sports department on social networks
At the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio Belarusians came out with the flag of Russia. Ahead, the Belarusian national team carried the flag of their country, and one of the athletes, who was the last in the delegation, was holding the Russian tricolor in his hands. The exit with the Russian flag took place despite the ban of the International Paralympic Committee.
On August 23, the Belarusian Paralympic athletes expressed their regret about the Russian team from the 2016 Games and expressed their support. To cheer up the athletes of the friendly country, Oleg Shepel, chairman of the Paralympic Committee of Belarus, promised to take the Russian flag to the opening ceremony. Then the International Paralympic Committee forbade Belarusian athletes to carry out such an action, but the Belarusians kept their word, which made all Russians very happy, especially athletes who were deprived of the opportunity to show their strengths and abilities.
The International Paralympic Committee was outraged by this action. The solidarity of Belarusians with Russian athletes apparently did not go well with the organizers of the sporting event. It is already known that the Belarusian, who walked with the Russian flag at the opening of the Games in Rio de Janeiro, will be investigated. The Paralympic Committee threatens the Belarusian team with punishment and regards this as a political protest, which is very strange, because, based on this statement by the IPC, they recognize the removal of the Russian team as a political action.
* The Russian Paralympic team was suspended from the Games in Rio de Janeiro in full force due to the WADA report. The reason for the suspension was the report of the commission headed by Richard McLaren on doping fraud at the 2014 Games in Sochi. On September 7, separate games were arranged for the Russian Paralympic athletes in the Moscow region.
Belarusian athletes carried the flag of Russia at the opening of the Paralympics in Rio video
The Kremlin called the actions of a member of the Paralympic team of Belarus, who carried the flag of Russia at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, "an act worthy of admiration"
Director of the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Athletics Andrey Fomochkin with the flag of Russia (in the background in the center) during the parade of athletes and members of national delegations at the opening ceremony of the XV Summer Paralympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro (Photo: Vladimir Astapkovich / RIA Novosti)
The act of a member of the Paralympic team of Belarus, who carried the Russian flag at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, is worthy of admiration. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, RBC correspondent reports.
“You know, of course, this act is admirable. Of course, we highly appreciate such a manifestation of solidarity with our Paralympic athletes, who were undeservedly and unfairly deprived of the opportunity to compete, ”Peskov said.
During the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, which took place at the Marakana stadium the day before, on September 8, among the participants of the Belarusian national team was a man who carried the Russian flag, contrary to the ban of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). A man, then the flag was taken from him.
The Associated Press journalist Matt McGeehan said that the IPC had already identified the athlete who carried the Russian flag, but did not name him.
IPC in relation to the Belarusian delegation. The committee banned Belarusian athletes from flying Russian flags after the head of the Belarusian Paralympic Committee, Oleg Shepel, announced such an intention. Explaining the reasons for the ban, the IPC said it would be seen as a "political protest".
After the removal of the flag took place, Shepel said that "the members of the Belarusian delegation made this gesture in solidarity with the Russian Paralympic athletes, who were suspended from participation in the competition in Rio without confirmed anti-doping rule violations and personal disqualification." According to him, the athlete "acted seriously, in a comradely and masculine way." He also did not name the flag bearer, but said that if the athlete has to be responsible for carrying the flag, then he "will be responsible."
Vice-President of the Russian Paralympic Committee Anatoly Tsarik, in a conversation with RBC, also called the incident “a bold act. “Well done, they feel justice, they know that they are violating human rights in the most flagrant way,” he said.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, commenting on the incident at the stadium in Rio de Janeiro,. “We have a hero today. This is the person who took out the Russian flag in Rio at the opening of the Paralympic Games, showed solidarity with those who vilely and inhumanly were not allowed to the Paralympic Games in Rio, ”she said at a briefing.
CHISINAU, September 8 - Sputnik. The XV Summer Paralympic Games have opened in Rio de Janeiro, for the first time they are held without athletes from Russia, who have participated in all the Paralympics since 1992.
During the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio, which took place at the Maracana stadium, Belarusian athletes walked with the Russian flag at the parade of participating teams in solidarity with the suspended Russian Paralympians.
According to Rima Batalova, vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee, the removal of the Russian flag was expected, but no one knew in advance that the Belarusian athletes would gather courage and march with the flag at the very opening of the Paralympic Games.
“This athlete should be rewarded for supporting our team,” said Rima Batalova. “For the fact that he did not flinch. You see, a feat was really accomplished. I am very grateful to him for what he did, and I am grateful to the Belarusian team, because I think that some kind of common decision was made.
Rima Batalova also quoted the President of the Paralympic Committee of Belarus, Oleg Shepel, who said that the Russian flag would definitely be in Rio.
“The exit with the flag looked powerful, good and beautiful,” Batalova shared her impressions. “I was waiting for this moment. I seemed to be at the start. I couldn’t sleep. I thought:“ Lord! Will they do it or not?" And the Belarusians did it. Well done!"
The name of the Belarusian hero in Rio is Andrei Fomochkin, Sputnik Belarus reports.
The 53-year-old sports functionary, whose name was recognized by the entire world community, worked as a trainer-teacher at the Minsk Region Sports School, held a number of senior positions in government and commercial organizations, since 2007 in the directorate of national teams, from 2008 to 2010 was an assistant to the Minister of Sports and Tourism , from 2010 to 2012 - Chairman of the Directorate of National Winter Sports Teams of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism.
Andrei Fomochkin is a master of sports of international class, winner and prize-winner of the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR (1986), USSR record holder in the winter all-around.
Meanwhile, the world media negatively assessed the action of solidarity between Belarusians and Russians.
The American publication International Business Times writes that the Paralympic Games in Rio opened with a spectacular ceremony, which was beautiful, except for one drawback - violation of the IPC ban by the Belarusian team.
The British The Telegraph came out with the headline "The opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio gave a spectacular and at the same time piquant start to the Games, despite the pro-Russian protest of Belarus."
The solemn opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio, according to the author of an article in the Guardian, was "spoiled" by the protest of the Belarusian team against the suspension of Russian athletes.
It is noteworthy that the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, will not attend any of the Paralympic events. The official reason is the busy schedule of the functionary.
Earlier it was reported that Bach will not be at the opening of the Paralympic Games, as he must attend the funeral ceremony dedicated to the former President of Germany Walter Scheel, who died on August 24 at the age of 97.
Foreign media have already noted that the absence of Bach, who became the first head of the IOC who has not attended the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games since 1984, is due to tense relations between the IOC and the IPC due to different positions on the participation of Russian athletes in the 2016 Games.
The IOC did not remove the entire Russian team from the 2016 Olympics, allowing athletes who were not involved in doping.
At the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, 528 sets of medals in 22 sports will be played, for the first time triathlon and paracanoeing have been included in the program.
More than 4,300 athletes from more than 160 countries will take part in the competition, including the refugee team under the IPC flag - it includes two athletes. The Games will end on September 18.
