Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


      Ukraine: Paralympic Team to Withdraw from Sochi if Crisis Escalates

   by VOA News

   The chief of Ukraine's Paralympic team says Ukraine will withdraw from
   the Paralympic Games in Sochi if Russia escalates the military conflict
   in Crimea.
   Valeriy Sushkevich, president of Ukraine's National Paralympic
   Committee, told reporters at a news conference Friday that for now,
   Ukraine will take part in the games despite Russia's military moves in
   Crimea.
   Sushkevich said he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on
   Thursday and asked him for peace during the games. He said Putin made
   no promises but added it was important that the president listened.
   [1]The Paralympic Games for disabled athletes open Friday in Sochi,
   site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games last month. Several countries
   have decided not to send officials to the event to protest Russia's
   actions in Ukraine.
   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-paralympic-team-to-withdraw-f
   rom-sochi-if-crisis-escalates/1866300.html

References

   1. http://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-games
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-paralympic-team-to-withdraw-from-sochi-if-crisis-escalates/1866300.html