March 03, 2014 (Sochi, Russia) – Rising political tensions around the Black Sea and the Russian occupation of Crimea have led to public calls to boycott the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games as per a column published in The Toronto Star on Saturday. But there will be no boycott of the Games to be held from March 7-16, in Sochi, Russia according to International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence as cited by BBC. The British delegation, however, will be missing its patron, Prince Edward, whom the British government advised to stay away.

Following a rare emergency cabinet meeting held Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Harper said Canada is recalling its ambassador from Moscow and pulling out of the G8 process being chaired by Russia and planned for Sochi later this year. This is in protest of Russia’s military occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, part of the Ukraine. Simultaneously, Canada is recognizing the legitimacy of the new, pro-Western Ukrainian government. Sochi is around 450km from Crimea, across the Black Sea.

This Friday will see the opening ceremonies at the eleventh Paralympic Winter Games. Competitions will take place over nine days at the same venues as the recent Winter Olympics. The Paralympic Games will see around 700 competitors from 44 nations, including newcomers Brazil, Turkey and Uzbekistan. South Africa, however, decided not to send anyone, meaning that no African country will be represented.

Among the sports presented at the Paralympic Games, there will be Alpine skiing;  Biathlon; Cross-country skiing; Ice sledge hockey; and Wheelchair curling with the main venue being the Laura Biathlon & Ski Complex, Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.

Toronto Star here www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2014/2014/03/01/canada_needs_to_step_up_and_boycott_paralympic_games_in_sochi_kelly.html

BBC here
<http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/disability-sport/26418517>www.bbc.com/sport/0/disability-sport/26418517