Winter Paralympics: Officials call for peace as Beijing Games officially open

Ukrainian athletes participated in the 2022 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony as officials passionately reiterated their calls for peace.

The 54-strong delegation managed to make it to Beijing despite the Russian invasion, which began on 24 February.

No Russian or Belarusian athletes will compete after they were banned by the International Paralympic Committee.

«The world must be a place for sharing, not dividing,» Andrew Parsons, president of the IPC, said.

«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.

»The Olympic truce — for peace during Olympic and Paralympic Games — is a UN Resolution. It must be respected and observed, not violated.

«Through sport, Paralympians will showcase the best of humanity and highlight the values that should underpin a peaceful and inclusive world.

»Paralympians know that an opponent does not have to be an enemy, and that united we can achieve more, much more."

The Paralympic Games take place from 4-13 March.

There will be 24 British athletes competing at the Games, aiming to build on the seven medals they won in Pyeongchang, South Korea, four years ago.

Wheelchair curlers Gregor Ewan and Meggan Dawson-Farrell were Great Britain's flag-bearers at the opening ceremony.

Fans were permitted into the stands for the opening ceremony, which took place at the iconic Bird's Nest stadium.

Para-biathlete Maksym Yarovyi carried the Ukrainian flag as the delegation entered the arena, before Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Games officially open.

Valeriy Sushkevych, the Ukrainian Paralympic chief, said on Thursday that it was a «miracle» the team had managed to reach the Games.

«Our entire equipment, hardware,