MOSCOW, Mar 16, Vasily Bogdanov.The head coach of the Russian Paralympic team in alpine skiing, Natalya Brusova, admitted to reporters that the removal of Russians from the Paralympics in Beijing was a small death for athletes and the coaching staff. On February 28, the International Olympic Committee recommended that international sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions from -for the situation around Russia and Ukraine. On March 2, the teams of Russia and Belarus were allowed to participate in the Paralympics in Beijing, but after 17 hours the International Paralympic Committee changed its decision and banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the Games. «At the Paralympics in China, our discipline has no problems or conflicts with competitors everyone was friendly. The Olympic village received us very well, the slopes are great. We even had time to do one training session. Unfortunately, then we got a message about our suspension, so we returned to Russia. Really glad that we are here now. In this difficult period you have to be with your country.Did they play the anthem before leaving?No, because we left very early and did not want to wake up the other athletes who treated us well.Of course, because of this whole situation, there was devastation that has not disappeared until now «To be honest, I still don't sleep well at night. For me, this is the second Paralympics without an anthem and a flag, and when you are suspended already in place after the first training sessions on local tracks… It's like a little death for athletes and coaches,» said Brusova. for which we have been preparing. I wanted to show myself in the international arena, to win something for the country. In any case, we need to look for some alternative options, because this is not the way to treat people. It is clear that we are for pure sport — there are no questions. But the intervention of politics in sports is wrong. We are very pleased that the government and the regions provide us with such support. Guys, this is very important. We are grateful to the Motherland,» added the head coach of the Russian national team. Paralympic Games «We are together. Sports» will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk from March 18 to March 21. It is planned to hold competitions in six sports — cross-country skiing, biathlon, curling, snowboarding, alpine skiing, sledge hockey. In addition to Russian athletes, Paralympic athletes from Belarus, Tajikistan and Armenia.
