Paralympics began in Tokyo, Bashkir sportswoman is among flag-bearers

The 16th Paralympic Games have opened today at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, the capital of Japan.

The opening ceremony was held without spectators. The Paralympics will take place from 24 August to 5 September.

The flag-bearers of the Russian team were the six-time world champion in athletics Andrey Vdovin and two-time Paralympic champion in the 1500-meter run, Bashkir athlete Elena Pautova.

The Russian national team for the 2020 Paralympics included 241 athletes from 50 regions of the country. Bashkortostan is represented by 14 participants in four sports - swimming, fencing, athletics, and table tennis. The Russian team will take part in the parade of athletes under the 28th number.

Due to the CAS sanctions, our Paralympians will perform in Tokyo under the abbreviation RPC (Russian Paralympic Committee) and the white flag with the coat of arms of the Russian Paralympic Committee. In honor of the Russians' victories, not the Russian Federation's anthem will sound, but the introduction to concert No. 1 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.