Ukraine Weighs Boycott of Paralympics in Russia

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia - The chant echoed throughout the plaza of the Paralympians' mountain village here, and it grew only louder as the Ukrainian delegation marched on. 'Peace for Ukraine,' its members shouted in their native language, again and again, their words grounded more in hope than in confidence.

The turmoil in Ukraine, where the Crimean Peninsula was seized by Russia in response to the formation of a new pro-Western government, has cast into doubt the nation's participation in the Paralympics. Ukraine's team is expected to announce its decision at a news conference Friday afternoon, just before the Games open. As Ukrainian officials deliberated, the team staged what amounted to a protest at the welcoming ceremony Thursday, leaving before it ended.

'If I say very good, it's not honest,' said Valerii Sushkevych, the president of Ukraine's Paralympic committee, when asked how his team is handling the crisis back home. 'Most of my sportsmen, their eyes cried. And very, very nervous. Very afraid about the country. About a life, a future life in my country.'

After meeting for three hours with the International Paralympic Committee on Wednesday night, Ukrainian Paralympic officials continued discussions on Thursday, though Sushkevych would not elaborate as to what was said, or what developments could prompt Ukraine to leave Sochi - or, alternatively, to compete - other than saying, 'Peace; peace for my country.' He said he spoke for more than two hours with his team, soliciting their thoughts and feelings. They spoke of hearing conflicting reports about a possible Russian retreat in Crimea, of hopes raised and dashed.

Team members did not speak to the news media, but several of them fought back tears while Sushkevych - his own eyes watering - paused to compose himself during an interview.

'I must say to you, my athletes, after this ceremony, cried,' Sushkevych said. 'I am too.'

The upheaval comes at an inopportune moment for the I.P.C., with the Games already tinged by instability in the region now threatened to be overshadowed by a withdrawal. Russia's incursion into Ukraine prompted the governments of three competing teams - Britain, Germany and the United States - to cancel plans to send official representatives. Australia was said to be considering joining them.

'We want them to stay; I think the athletes want to stay,' said Craig Spence, a spokesman for the I.P.C. 'They've trained for four years to be here. They don't want to get involved in politics, they want to compete. It's what they live for.'

Ukraine boasts a strong team, loaded with medal contenders in its best two disciplines: biathlon and cross-country skiing. It finished fifth in the medal count at the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010, with 19, and is expected to have similar success here.

'We are ready to compete, believe me,' said Andriy Nesterenko, an Alpine skiing coach for Ukraine. 'All our athletes are in good shape. We spent a lot of money for preparation. Believe me, we have a lot of medals of last Paralympic and last world championship, and everybody would like to go.'

Everybody is already here, and has been for a few days. Shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, they paraded into the square at this village, where the Alpine skiing and para-snowboard athletes are housed, to loud cheering and the waving of small Ukrainian flags. The Russian master of ceremonies extended, on behalf of his people, what he called his warmest welcome.

After the Ukrainian flag was raised and the national anthem sung and the mascots introduced, the team - which had stood stoically during the festivities - followed Sushkevych's lead. He began the chant and then, in his wheelchair, rolled out of the plaza. Afterward, he complimented the Russians for the festivities, but was steadfast in Ukraine's decision.

'We don't want to look on, dancing,' Sushkevych said. 'We want to look at our flag here like symbol of our country, a country who wants only territory without military and peace, love, life, good government.'

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