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Russia will welcome the sporting world back to Sochi on Friday for the Winter Paralympics
opening ceremony. Less than a fortnight after the Winter Olympics
ended, 575 athletes from 45 countries will compete for 72 gold medals in five sports
over 10 days. That's the largest number of athletes and
countries to take part in the event since it was first held in 1976.
The Games, opened by Russian president Vladimir Putin, will begin amid an escalating political
crisis in Ukraine. A number of the world's politicians have said
they will snub the showpiece event following Russian intervention in Crimea, situated just
300 miles from Sochi. Prime Minister David Cameron said it would
be wrong for British ministers to attend the Games - a decision criticised by International
Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven - while ParalympicsGB patron Prince
Edward has also decided not to travel. Ukraine, one of the most successful Paralympic
nations, is also contemplating a boycott of the event.
The president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee made an emotional plea for peace
on the eve of the opening ceremony as he explained how concerned his 23 athletes were about the
situation back home. "My sportsmen dream about participating, but
not without the Ukrainian people," said Valeriy Suskevich. "The national team represents the
Ukrainian people, it's not separate." Ukraine will make a decision on participation
before the opening ceremony gets under way at 1600 GMT.
The action is due to get under way on Saturday.