ROSA KHUTOR, Russia // Paralympians set out to turn the spotlight on to sport as competition began in the Winter Paralympics on Saturday, following an opening ceremony overshadowed by Russia's intervention in Crimea.
Russian president Vladimir Putin opened the Games on Friday night in Sochi, which lies just south-east across the Black Sea from Ukraine’s peninsula of Crimea, which has been seized by pro-Moscow forces.
Only one Ukrainian competitor, 37-year-old skier and biathlete Mykhailo Tkachenko, took part in the opening ceremony in a symbolic protest against Russia's incursion into Crimea.
“It was a team decision to have one person in the parade. We had a discussion and he said he wanted to do it,” said Oleksandr Onischenko, a translator with the Ukrainian team.
“Today I want to talk about sport, about the sports aspect. The team is here to fight for the medals and for a great result. It’s not about beating the Russians specifically.”
Russia, which is one of the world’s strongest nations in paralympic winter sports and has high hopes of heading the medals table, started the Games by taking four out of the five golds on offer in the first day’s biathlon races.
The first Ukrainian medallist of the Paralympics dedicated her achievement to “an independent Ukraine” and appealed for peace.
Olena Iurkovska claimed bronze in the first biathlon event – the women’s six-kilometre sitting.
After finishing behind Svetlana Konovalova of Russia, Iurkovska said: “I devote my first medal in Sochi to an independent Ukraine. Every time I race, it will be for Ukrainian independence and peace in my country.”
Medals in the Alpine events were more evenly spread, with Japan’s Akira Kano taking gold in the men’s sitting downhill and other golds going to athletes from nations ranging from Slovakia to Spain.
Meanwhile, the initial match-ups in the ice sledge hockey and the wheelchair curling also began.
Two weeks after the Winter Olympic Games wrapped up in Sochi, there was still plenty of snow on the tracks, even if the sides of the hills were covered with grass and the sound of birdsong gave an atmosphere of spring.
Russian fans in the stands to watch the opening biathlon races were happy to yell in support for both the Russian and the Ukrainian teams.
“I worry so much for Ukraine. Yesterday when just one athlete came through the arena during the parade, I cried,” said Natalia Kazimirova, a Russian fan from Sochi with a Russian flag painted on her face.
“I am cheering for both teams, Russia and Ukraine. Politics doesn’t matter for me.”
Some western countries, including the United States, Great Britain and Germany, have not sent government delegations to the Games in protest at Russia’s action in Crimea.
Putin had said that he hoped the Paralympic spirit would help “cool the tensions” surrounding Russia’s policy on Ukraine, which has already caused the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War ended.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
A QUIET PLACE
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 2.5/5
The Roundup : No Way Out
Director: Lee Sang-yong
Stars: Don Lee, Lee Jun-hyuk, Munetaka Aoki
Rating: 3/5
INDIA'S TOP INFLUENCERS
Bhuvan Bam
Instagram followers: 16.1 million
Bhuvan Bam is a 29-year-old comedian and actor from Delhi, who started out with YouTube channel, “BB Ki Vines” in 2015, which propelled the social media star into the limelight and made him sought-after among brands.
Kusha Kapila
Instagram followers: 3.1 million
Kusha Kapila is a fashion editor and actress, who has collaborated with brands including Google. She focuses on sharing light-hearted content and insights into her life as a rising celebrity.
Diipa Khosla
Instagram followers: 1.8 million
Diipa Khosla started out as a social media manager before branching out to become one of India's biggest fashion influencers, with collaborations including MAC Cosmetics.
Komal Pandey
Instagram followers: 1.8 million
Komal Pandey is a fashion influencer who has partnered with more than 100 brands, including Olay and smartphone brand Vivo India.
Nikhil Sharma
Instagram followers: 1.4 million
Nikhil Sharma from Mumbai began his online career through vlogs about his motorcycle trips. He has become a lifestyle influencer and has created his own clothing line.
Source: Hireinfluence, various
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150+ employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
SPECS
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp
Torque: 380Nm
Price: From Dh208,000
On sale: Now
The pillars of the Dubai Metaverse Strategy
Encourage innovation in the metaverse field and boost economic contribution
Develop outstanding talents through education and training
Develop applications and the way they are used in Dubai's government institutions
Adopt, expand and promote secure platforms globally
Develop the infrastructure and regulations