Scandal: Belarusian Paralympians carry Russian flag in Rio (photo)

A scandal accompanied the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Rio. The Belarusian delegation carried a flag different from the flag of the Republic of Belarus. Besides the national flag, one of the delegation members was carrying the Russian flag. The Russian team is not taking part in the Paralympics Games in Rio because the Paralympic Committee has suspended Russia from the competition due to a report about the state support of doping in the Russian Federation.

A man from the Belarusian delegation walked a few dozen meters with the Russian flag, BBC reports. Then it was taken away from him. The International Paralympic Committee will investigate the incident. The name of the infringer is being revealed.

Belarusian Paralympians were planning to carry the Russian fags to support their Russian colleagues, mass media reported earlier. However, the International Paralympic Committee forbade it. The deed would be considered a political gesture, the committee stressed. The delegation would only carry the Belarusian flag while he would bring both flags to the stands, head of the Belarusian Paralympic Committee assured Euroradio back then.

It is not clear what sanctions may be imposed on Belarusian Paralympians now. They may be suspended from the competition.