Winter Paralympics: tearful Ukraine team pay tribute to country’s fallen, as China secures bronze medal on day 6 in Beijing
- Ukraine delegation calls for peace as gold medallist Vovchynskyi expresses disbelief over Russian invasion – ‘they are bombing our children and women’
- Chinese teenager Liang wins a bronze in men’s giant slalom sitting event, as leaders extend their overall tally to 31 medals
Ukraine’s Winter Paralympics delegation wept and pumped their fists in the air in defiance of Russia’s invasion of their homeland during a moment’s silence at the Athletes’ Village in Beijing on Thursday.
On day 6 of the 2022 Games – which saw medal table leader China add one bronze in the alpine skiing event – Ukraine held a solemn ceremony to call for peace, and honour their fallen countrymen and women, during a break from training commitments as well as cross-country skiing and biathlon races.
The United Nations estimates about 2.2 million Ukrainian refugees have fled the country, calling it Europe’s fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II.
In an act of solidarity, a 30-strong contingent of athletes and team staff raised a banner reading “peace for all” as they gathered in front of rows of flags of the 46 nations and territories competing at the Games in the Chinese capital.
Female athletes wore wreaths of sunflowers and blue and yellow ribbons – Ukraine’s colours – in their hair.
With the gold, silver and bronze medals he won this week strung around his neck, Grygorii Vovchynskyi, 33, had tears welling up in his eyes as he made an impassioned call for peace.
