PARIS, France: Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed strong support for Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian mayors and criticized the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics. While 88 Russian and eight Belarusian athletes are participating in the Paralympic Games in Paris under a neutral banner, their victories are not counted on the official medals table, and a Paralympic anthem is played instead of their national anthem for gold medalists.
The International Paralympic Committee decided in 2023 to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under neutral status, despite a full ban after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Similarly, the International Olympic Committee argued that athletes should not be punished for their governments’ actions, a stance Russia criticized as discriminatory. Hidalgo voiced her disapproval, stating, “I would have wished that there would not even be a neutral banner.”
Ukrainian athletes, like silver and bronze medalists Illia Yaremenko and Oleksii Virchenko, have avoided celebrating alongside Belarusian gold medalists, reflecting ongoing tensions. At the event, Hidalgo emphasized France’s solidarity with Ukraine, stating, “You are our friends. We’ve been on your side since the first day of the Russian aggression on Ukraine.”
Ukrainian mayors, including Ihor Terekhov of Kharkiv, emphasized the importance of integrating those who will be disabled due to the ongoing conflict, reiterating their commitment to victory and post-war recovery.
