Sawt Falasteen - Russian sports minister defends return of flag, anthem to Paralympics

A decision to allow six athletes from Russia to compete under their national flag and anthem in Milan-Cortina despite the ongoing four-year war on Ukraine sparked outcry in Kyiv and several European capitals.

According to the Russian minister, the athletes felt no pressure at the Winter Games.

"The masses have always supported Russia, and we can feel that at every international competition," Degtyarev said in a written statement to AFP.

"When the Russian flag is raised and the Russian national anthem is played, no one feels allergic (to them)," added the official, who also heads the Russian Olympic committee.

Commenting on an incident at the Paralympics when German athletes turned their backs on the Russians on the podium during an awarding ceremony, he said it was "appalling" and "unsportsmanlike".

Still, Degtyarev said it was an "isolated incident" and those who try to boycott Russia are a "minority".

Russian athletes have so far won nine medals, including five golds, climbing to the fifth place in the medal table.

The Milan-Cortina Paralympics closing ceremony will take place on Sunday.

At the opening ceremony last week, the Russian team were booed by some spectators and Ukraine, along with a handful of European countries, have boycotted the event.

Ukraine had condemned the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision to reinstate several Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national flags for the 2026 Games as "disappointing and outrageous", saying that it would give "a voice to war propaganda".

Russia had been banned from the Games since 2018 due to a doping scandal, which was followed by further sanctions after the Ukraine offensive in 2022.

G.AbuHamad--SF-PST