RealGM

The USA will not send a presidential delegation to the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi because of host Russia's military action in nearby Ukraine.

"In addition to other measures we are taking in response to the situation in Ukraine, the United States will no longer send a Presidential Delegation to the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi," White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement on Monday. "President Obama continues to strongly support all of the U.S. athletes who will participate in the Paralympics and wishes them great success in the Olympic competition."

The Games run March 7-16 in the same area as last month's Winter Olympics.

Patrick Sandusky, chief communications and public affairs officer of the United States Olympic Committee, said the USOC had been advised of the decision by the White House. "We encourage all Americans to support our athletes by watching them compete on NBC, NBCSN and on TeamUSA.Org," Sandusky said in a statement. "As a sports organization, we will continue to fully support the amazing men and women that comprise Team USA at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, and we encourage all Americans to support our athletes by watching them compete on NBC, NBCSN and on TeamUSA.org."

The International Paralympic Committee has appealed for Russia to recognize the U.N.'s Olympic Truce, which asks warring parties to cease hostilities during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Across five sports - alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, sledge hockey and wheelchair curling - 575 athletes from 45 countries will be competing. TV stations in more than 55 countries are due to broadcast the games, the IPC said.

Events will take place in the coastal cluster of stadiums bordering the Black Sea and in the Caucasus mountains an hour's bus ride away.

kyphi wrote:The USA will not send a presidential delegation to the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi because of host Russia's military action in nearby Ukraine.

"In addition to other measures we are taking in response to the situation in Ukraine, the United States will no longer send a Presidential Delegation to the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi," White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement on Monday. "President Obama continues to strongly support all of the U.S. athletes who will participate in the Paralympics and wishes them great success in the Olympic competition."

The Games run March 7-16 in the same area as last month's Winter Olympics.

Patrick Sandusky, chief communications and public affairs officer of the United States Olympic Committee, said the USOC had been advised of the decision by the White House. "We encourage all Americans to support our athletes by watching them compete on NBC, NBCSN and on TeamUSA.Org," Sandusky said in a statement. "As a sports organization, we will continue to fully support the amazing men and women that comprise Team USA at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, and we encourage all Americans to support our athletes by watching them compete on NBC, NBCSN and on TeamUSA.org."

Good thing the Olympics are about sport and not politics.

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Ukraine's Paralympic chief, Valeriy Sushkevich, said on Friday his team would quit the Winter Paralympic Games if Russia invaded his home country, and that he hoped the competition would be able to spread peace instead.

Russia is holding the Games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi at a time when it is being criticised for its actions in Ukraine's southern region of Crimea, where the West accuses Russia of seizing military and government institutions.

Moscow says the armed men in Crimea are members of local self-defence units. While Putin says he has the right to send in troops to defend Russian compatriots there but that so far he sees no need to do so.

"If there is an escalation of the conflict, intervention on the territory of our country, God forbid the worst, we would not be able to stay here, we would go," Sushkevich told a news conference.

Many countries have cancelled plans to send government ministers and members of royal families to the Games because of events in Crimea, where the parliament has voted to join Russia and hold a referendum