北京到着は「奇跡」 ウクライナのパラ委員長

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】ウクライナ・パラリンピック委員会のトップは３日、ロシアによる侵攻の爆撃から辛うじて逃れてきた選手もいた中で、北京冬季パラリンピックに向けて同国選手団が現地入りできたことは「奇跡」だと話した。（写真はウクライナ・パラリンピック委員会のバレリー・スシケビッチ会長）
　同委員会のバレリー・スシケビッチ会長によると、選手団は前日に北京入りして以来、チームに寄せられている連帯に感動しているという。
　選手たちは競技に集中していると話した会長は、「このパラリンピックにどうにかたどり着けたのは奇跡といえる」とし、「われわれにとって最も簡単なのは、パラリンピックに参加しないことだった。しかし、諦めて来ないことはできなかった」と語った。
　さらに、チームが北京にいることは、母国で恐怖にさらされながら過ごしている人々の士気を高めるだろうとも話し、「これはウクライナが過去も、現在も、そして未来も国であり続けるという証しだ」と述べた。
　「われわれにとって、ここにいることは信念の問題であり、ウクライナが生きていることを示す象徴だ」 【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/03/04-13:28）

The arrival of Ukrainian athletes at Beijing's Winter Paralympics is a miracle, the team's top official said Thursday, with some narrowly escaping bombs as they left during the Russian invasion.
Ukraine Paralympic committee president Valeriy Sushkevych said his team had been overwhelmed with solidarity since arriving in the Chinese capital a day prior and that the athletes had been determined to compete.
I can say that this is a miracle that we managed to be here at the Paralympic Games, he told reporters.
The easiest way for us would have been to not go to the Paralympics.. But we couldn?t give up and not come.
On Thursday, a week after Moscow sent its troops across the border into neighbouring Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee banned Russian athletes from competing in the Games, reversing an earlier decision.
The IPC said many countries had expressed their support for Ukraine and threatened to boycott the event if Russia was allowed to compete
Sushkevych noted that his team's presence in Beijing would lift the spirits of those living in terror at home.
A superpower wants to destroy my country. And our presence here at the Paralympic Games, it?s not just a presence. It?s a sign that Ukraine was, is, and will remain a country, he said.
For us, it is a matter of principle to be here, it?s a symbol to show that Ukraine is alive.
The logistical nightmare of leaving the country meant he had slept on the floor of a bus for several days.
Many of our team members had difficulties escaping the bombs, he said.
The Eastern European country has punched above its weight in previous Paralympic winter events, with frequent podium finishes in the biathlon and ski competitions.
The delegation took home 22 medals in 2018 -- including seven golds -- the sixth-highest global tally.
As biathlon events kick off Saturday, team members are now focused on the job at hand -- preparing for competition.
There are two frontlines right now. One is in Ukraine for our soldiers. And one is here in Beijing, Sushkevych said.
Biathletes hit the slopes for skiing and shooting training in Zhangjiakou on Thursday.
While their fellow citizens took up arms to defend themselves, the biathletes shot targets on mats in the snow -- one using a hot pink gun with painted flowers.
For some of the team, the emotional rollercoaster and disrupted focus will be a case of deja vu.
During Russia's hosting of the Winter Paralympics in 2014, Ukrainian athletes had to grapple with Moscow's takeover of the Crimean peninsula.