Winter Paralympics: IPC chief Andrew Parsons calls for ‘peace’ in opening ceremony plea, denounces Ukraine invasion
- ‘The 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy – not war and hate,’ says International Paralympic Committee president at Bird’s Nest
- His remarks are seemingly ignored by CCTV translators, before Chinese President Xi Jinping officially opens 2022 Games in a low-key ceremony
It had been less than two weeks since the closing of the Olympics when Beijing’s Bird’s Nest came together again on Friday night, lighting up for the start of the Winter Paralympics.
But the world has dramatically changed in those 12 days – and International Paralympics Committee chief Andrew Parsons delivered a passionate, at times angry, speech out of step with the laid-back, simple celebrations on show inside the National Stadium.
“Tonight, I must begin with a message of peace,” Parsons said. “As leader of an organisation with inclusion at its core, where diversity is celebrated and differences embraced, I am horrified by what is taking place in the world right now. The 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy – not war and hate.”
