International Paralympic Committee comments on Russian adherence to Olympic Truce

Monday, March 3, 2014

In a response published Saturday by The Associated Press, the International Paralympic Committee commented on Russian adherence to the Olympic Truce in regards to the country's actions in the Ukraine, saying "As with situations around the world, we hope a peaceful resolution can be found in the spirit of the Olympic Truce, which has covered the Paralympic Games since 2006. [...] We want the story here to be the great festival of sport that has already taken place in Sochi and will continue now that athletes are arriving for the start of the Winter Paralympics."

In the past few days, Russian troops entered the Ukrainian Crimea and took control of a number of strategic locations, including an airport and a regional parliament. Yesterday, Russian forces surrounded a Crimean Ukrainian military base.

While the Russian-hosted Olympic Games officially ended on February 23, the Olympic period officially concludes on March 16 at the closing ceremony for the 2014 Winter Paralympics.

The Olympic Truce and its extension to the Paralympic Games is recognized by the United Nations, who did so in A/65/270, para.7, an addition recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in August 2010.

The Crimea region of the Ukraine is located less than 500 kilometers (less than 300 miles) away from Sochi. The British Paralympic team have said they are continuing to monitor the situation, but has no current plans to make changes regarding their participation at the Games. The United States Paralympic team has said they haven't made any changes to their plans in response to the situation.

Yesterday, the United Kingdom's Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter, "Because of the serious situation in Ukraine, @WilliamJHague & I believe it would be wrong for UK Ministers to attend the Sochi Paralympics."

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Sources

David Rose. "Uneasy standoff between Ukrainian and Russia troops in Crimea" — The Daily Telegraph, March 2, 2014
"Winter Paralympics: British ministers to stay away following Ukraine unrest" — Sky Sports, March 2, 2014
"Ukraine: UK ministers to boycott Sochi Paralympics" — Channel 4, March 2, 2014
"The United Nations and the Olympic Truce" — United Nations, March 2, 2014 (access date)
"Sport for development and peace: strengthening the partnerships" — United Nations, March 2, 2014 (access date)
Rob Harris (AP). "Ukraine Peace Sought for Paralympics in Sochi" — ABC News (US), March 1, 2014
Kathy Lally, William Booth and Will Englund. "Russian forces seize Crimea; Ukraine’s interim president decries ‘aggression’" — The Washington Post, March 1, 2014

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