International Olympics Committee's president Thomas Bach held a press conference&nbsp;following an Executive Board meeting amid uncertainty surrounding whether the Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead later this year.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/insurers-face-mind-blowingly-large-loss-if-olympics-cancelled-359710" hreflang="en">Insurers face 'mind-blowingly' large loss if Olympics cancelled</a>

Bach started the conference by confirming that the Games will go ahead as planned. IOC chief said that the committee is is "concentrated and committed" in holding the Tokyo Olympics as per the schedule.&nbsp;

"We are fully concentrated and committed towards successful and safe Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Bach went on to talk about complexities of holding the Games, especially during the times of a pandemic, he said: "Organisation of Olympic and Paralympic Games extremely complex challenge. Complexity multiplied when it comes to the organisation of postponed Olympic Games under the conditions of a pandemic. We are learning every day."

He also said that no one can predict the health situation at the time of the games and the fight against the virus is tough. "Fight against the virus is a tough fight. Fighting it for and like Olympic athletes. Nobody, not even scientists, can predict the health-situation in 206 NOCs for the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games from late July to the beginning of September this year," Bach said.&nbsp;

While talking about the vaccinations, Bach said that vaccines are not a 'silver bullet', however, the IOC is encouraging the everyone to accept vaccination. "Vaccination is not the silver bullet which solves all problems. It is part of the countermeasures for Tokyo 2020. We are encouraging everybody to accept vaccination. But athletes should not jump the queue," IOC chief said.&nbsp;

Bach talked about athlete quota during the games, he said: "61 per cent of the athlete quota places for Tokyo 2020 have already been allocated; 25 per cent will be assigned during the remaining qualification period; the final 14 per cent of athletes will be selected through rankings as per the respective qualification system for each sport." &nbsp;&nbsp;

IOC chief also rubbished the speculations regarding the cancellations or postponement of the Games and said such news hurt the athletes' preparations.&nbsp;

"There are many speculations around Tokyo 2020 which are hurting the athletes. There is speculation about cancellation, a Plan B, about everything. Some even make the proposal to postpone to the year 2032. Tell this to an athlete who is preparing now," Bach said.&nbsp;

International Olympics Committee's president Thomas Bach held a press conference following an Executive Board meeting amid uncertainty surrounding whether the Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead later this year.

International Olympics Committee's president Thomas Bach held a press conference following an Executive Board meeting amid uncertainty surrounding whether the Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead later this year. ALSO READ: Insurers face 'mind-blowingly' large loss if Olympics cancelled Bach started the conference by confirming that the Games will go ahead as planned. IOC chief said that the committee is is "concentrated and committed" in holding the Tokyo Olympics as per the schedule. "We are fully concentrated and committed towards successful and safe Olympic and Paralympic Games." Bach went on to talk about complexities of holding the Games, especially during the times of a pandemic, he said: "Organisation of Olympic and Paralympic Games extremely complex challenge. Complexity multiplied when it comes to the organisation of postponed Olympic Games under the conditions of a pandemic. We are learning every day." He also said that no one can predict the health situation at the time of the games and the fight against the virus is tough. "Fight against the virus is a tough fight. Fighting it for and like Olympic athletes. Nobody, not even scientists, can predict the health-situation in 206 NOCs for the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games from late July to the beginning of September this year," Bach said. While talking about the vaccinations, Bach said that vaccines are not a 'silver bullet', however, the IOC is encouraging the everyone to accept vaccination. "Vaccination is not the silver bullet which solves all problems. It is part of the countermeasures for Tokyo 2020. We are encouraging everybody to accept vaccination. But athletes should not jump the queue," IOC chief said. Bach talked about athlete quota during the games, he said: "61 per cent of the athlete quota places for Tokyo 2020 have already been allocated; 25 per cent will be assigned during the remaining qualification period; the final 14 per cent of athletes will be selected through rankings as per the respective qualification system for each sport." IOC chief also rubbished the speculations regarding the cancellations or postponement of the Games and said such news hurt the athletes' preparations. "There are many speculations around Tokyo 2020 which are hurting the athletes. There is speculation about cancellation, a Plan B, about everything. Some even make the proposal to postpone to the year 2032. Tell this to an athlete who is preparing now," Bach said.

'Vaccination not a silver bullet': IOC chief Thomas Bach urges athletes to not jump queue

Japan has said that reports of Tokyo Olympics being cancelled is untrue. But experts say the games can only be conducted safely if Japan vaccinates its entire population. Japan is home to 127 people, and the country is yet to start its vaccination program. Palki Sharma Upadhyay has the details

Gravitas: Will Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?

Despite the growing COVID-19 & rising number of infections, Japan will be hosting the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics & the Paralympics in 2021. WION brings you a report.

Japan: Olympics, Paralympics on track despite surge in infections

Indian Paralympic athletes Niranjan Mukundan and Devendra Jhajharia&nbsp;optimised Twitter’s latest test feature, voice Tweets, to share how they are turning the tables on COVID-19 limitations that have brought sports to a halt and disrupted their regular training sessions.&nbsp;

Para-swimmer and former Junior World Champion, Niranjan Mukundan, whose swimming prowess is well-known to all, is choosing to swim with the current and look at the brighter side of this lockdown experience. He is eating healthy and training at home; focussing on strength and conditioning, weight workouts and cardio.

Commenting on the opportunity to share his experience using voice Tweets, Niranjan Mukundan said, “I love this new feature by Twitter. The voice Tweets will help everyone, especially the para-athletes. We have our own limitations when we have to type out a message. This feature is going to help us in expressing our views and words through our voice. It also lifts the barrier on the limited number of characters that we can capture in a Tweet. Kudos to Twitter for introducing this cool, new feature.”

Twitter recently introduced voice Tweets experiment to test a new way to start a conversation. On iOS, people can now Tweet with their voice by following a few simple steps: hit compose Tweet, record audio, and attach it to the Tweet, that’s it. This new test allows people to create a more human experience.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TwitterIndia</a> in love with this new feature 😍. <a href="https://t.co/AZ9L25I7Ev">pic.twitter.com/AZ9L25I7Ev</a>
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The two-time Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia&nbsp;also spoke about finding new ways to carry on. With limited access to the outdoors, he is reinventing his training sessions with the resources available to him at home. For instance, he is incorporating the use of makeshift equipment such as gas cylinders in his training regime. In his voice Tweet, the 38-year-old also recalled his 12-year-long wait for his second gold medal win at the Paralympics and added that he is all set to wait another year for Tokyo Olympics, which has been postponed.

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— Devendra Jhajharia (@DevJhajharia) <a href="https://twitter.com/DevJhajharia/status/1275016663881015298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Indian Paralympic athletes Niranjan Mukundan and Devendra Jhajharia optimised Twitter’s latest test feature, voice Tweets, to share how they are turning the tables on COVID-19 limitations that have brought sports to a halt and disrupted their regular training sessions.

Indian Paralympic athletes Niranjan Mukundan and Devendra Jhajharia optimised Twitter’s latest test feature, voice Tweets, to share how they are turning the tables on COVID-19 limitations that have brought sports to a halt and disrupted their regular training sessions. Para-swimmer and former Junior World Champion, Niranjan Mukundan, whose swimming prowess is well-known to all, is choosing to swim with the current and look at the brighter side of this lockdown experience. He is eating healthy and training at home; focussing on strength and conditioning, weight workouts and cardio. Commenting on the opportunity to share his experience using voice Tweets, Niranjan Mukundan said, “I love this new feature by Twitter. The voice Tweets will help everyone, especially the para-athletes. We have our own limitations when we have to type out a message. This feature is going to help us in expressing our views and words through our voice. It also lifts the barrier on the limited number of characters that we can capture in a Tweet. Kudos to Twitter for introducing this cool, new feature.” Twitter recently introduced voice Tweets experiment to test a new way to start a conversation. On iOS, people can now Tweet with their voice by following a few simple steps: hit compose Tweet, record audio, and attach it to the Tweet, that’s it. This new test allows people to create a more human experience. @TwitterIndia in love with this new feature 😍. pic.twitter.com/AZ9L25I7Ev — Niranjan_Mukundan (@SwimmerNiranjan) June 22, 2020 × The two-time Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia also spoke about finding new ways to carry on. With limited access to the outdoors, he is reinventing his training sessions with the resources available to him at home. For instance, he is incorporating the use of makeshift equipment such as gas cylinders in his training regime. In his voice Tweet, the 38-year-old also recalled his 12-year-long wait for his second gold medal win at the Paralympics and added that he is all set to wait another year for Tokyo Olympics, which has been postponed. @TwitterIndia pic.twitter.com/mBm423S54G — Devendra Jhajharia (@DevJhajharia) June 22, 2020 ×

Paralympians share their lockdown-induced practice routines using the new voice Tweets feature

Whirling, spinning, reaching and flexing - Japanese wheelchair dancer Kenta Kambara's emotive performances are wordless testimony to artistic passion and possibility.

Paralympic wheelchair dancer aims to perform at Tokyo Olympic games

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paralympics-malaysia-stripped-of-swim-worlds-after-israeli-ban-193220">Paralympics</a> boss <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/malaysia-stripped-of-world-para-swim-event-over-israel-stance-193562">Andrew Parsons </a>expressed disgust on Tuesday that Russian authorities had let down the country's clean athletes, after the World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia for four years from major events, including the Tokyo Olympic Games.

WADA's executive committee acted on Monday after concluding that Moscow had planted fake evidence and deleted files linked to positive doping tests in laboratory data that could have helped identify drug cheats.

"Of course, we are disgusted with the fact that you have authorities tempering data," Parsons, a Brazilian, told Reuters in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"We were working really closely with the Russian Paralympic Committee for years now; from the point where we went with a blanket ban in the build-up to Rio (2016 Games), to the provisional reinstatement announced this year."

"So, to think that authorities let their athletes down, it is really disgusting. I think that is the right word.”

Whereas Wada is taking the lead this time, during the previous <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/russia-could-face-olympic-ban-in-wada-decision-due-monday-266958">Russia ban</a> in 2016 the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had taken its own decisions on whether to allow Russian athletes to compete.

The ban comes as a huge blow to Russian pride and President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russian-president-vladimir-putin-turns-67-254334">Vladimir Putin</a> said on Monday that Moscow might appeal the decision, as is their right within 21 days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-imposes-four-year-ban-on-russia-over-doping-data-manipulation-267195">WADA</a>'s decision does leave the door open for "clean" Russian athletes to compete as individuals in Tokyo without their flag or anthem, as was the case when Russia was banned from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.

Although Parsons said any such decisions had to wait until after a possible Russian appeal, he appeared to agree that clean athletes shouldn't be punished.

"What we definitely want is for the guilty people to be punished in the hardest possible way," he said.

"This most probably doesn’t mean athletes.”

The decision not to impose a blanket ban was not uniformly welcomed. Travis Tygart, head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said the decision had only "emboldened Russia".

However, Ian Chesterman, the Australian Olympic Committee vice-president who will lead the Australian team at the Tokyo Olympics next year, said that WADA had sent a "powerful message" with the unprecedented ban.

"Every athlete deserves to compete with the confidence they are competing in a clean and fair environment. The fact that this was a systematic attempt to undermine fair sport makes it all the more galling and all the more offensive," he said.

Tokyo 2020 gave a lukewarm response to the news on Monday but the organising committee's president Yoshiro Mori appeared to suggest clean athletes should be allowed to compete, instead of blaming the greed of coaches.

"Unfortunately, I have to say it is more the coaches than the athletes themselves who lack in the awareness," NHK reported Mori as saying whilst at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Coaches were driven by their athletes breaking records and increasing their winnings, he said.

Paralympics boss Andrew Parsons expressed disgust on Tuesday that Russian authorities had let down the country's clean athletes, after the World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia for four years from major events, including the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Paralympics boss Andrew Parsons expressed disgust on Tuesday that Russian authorities had let down the country's clean athletes, after the World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia for four years from major events, including the Tokyo Olympic Games. WADA's executive committee acted on Monday after concluding that Moscow had planted fake evidence and deleted files linked to positive doping tests in laboratory data that could have helped identify drug cheats. "Of course, we are disgusted with the fact that you have authorities tempering data," Parsons, a Brazilian, told Reuters in Tokyo on Tuesday. "We were working really closely with the Russian Paralympic Committee for years now; from the point where we went with a blanket ban in the build-up to Rio (2016 Games), to the provisional reinstatement announced this year." "So, to think that authorities let their athletes down, it is really disgusting. I think that is the right word.” Whereas Wada is taking the lead this time, during the previous Russia ban in 2016 the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had taken its own decisions on whether to allow Russian athletes to compete. The ban comes as a huge blow to Russian pride and President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Moscow might appeal the decision, as is their right within 21 days. WADA's decision does leave the door open for "clean" Russian athletes to compete as individuals in Tokyo without their flag or anthem, as was the case when Russia was banned from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games. Although Parsons said any such decisions had to wait until after a possible Russian appeal, he appeared to agree that clean athletes shouldn't be punished. "What we definitely want is for the guilty people to be punished in the hardest possible way," he said. "This most probably doesn’t mean athletes.” The decision not to impose a blanket ban was not uniformly welcomed. Travis Tygart, head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said the decision had only "emboldened Russia". However, Ian Chesterman, the Australian Olympic Committee vice-president who will lead the Australian team at the Tokyo Olympics next year, said that WADA had sent a "powerful message" with the unprecedented ban. "Every athlete deserves to compete with the confidence they are competing in a clean and fair environment. The fact that this was a systematic attempt to undermine fair sport makes it all the more galling and all the more offensive," he said. Tokyo 2020 gave a lukewarm response to the news on Monday but the organising committee's president Yoshiro Mori appeared to suggest clean athletes should be allowed to compete, instead of blaming the greed of coaches. "Unfortunately, I have to say it is more the coaches than the athletes themselves who lack in the awareness," NHK reported Mori as saying whilst at the UN General Assembly in New York. Coaches were driven by their athletes breaking records and increasing their winnings, he said.

Paralympics chief 'disgusted' with Russia for letting down nation's clean athletes

Tokyo 2020 unveils robots to help wheelchair users and workers

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has branded Israel a "criminal state", hitting back at a decision to strip Malaysia of the right to host a major swimming event for refusing to let Israelis participate.&nbsp;

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced at the weekend that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/malaysia-stripped-of-world-para-swim-event-over-israel-stance-193562">Malaysia would no longer be staging the 2019 World </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/malaysia-stripped-of-world-para-swim-event-over-israel-stance-193562">Para Swimming</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/malaysia-stripped-of-world-para-swim-event-over-israel-stance-193562"> Championships</a> as authorities had failed to provide guarantees that Israelis could take part.&nbsp;

The championships, a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, were due to take place in Kuching from July 29-August 4.&nbsp;

Muslim-majority Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with the Jewish state and entry to the country on an Israeli passport is forbidden, but the IPC had received assurances in 2017 that all eligible athletes would be able to participate in the event.&nbsp;

However, the situation changed after a new government headed by 93-year-old Mahathir, long notorious for his tirades against Israel and Jews, came to power in Malaysia last year.&nbsp;

Following the IPC decision, Mahathir struck a defiant note, with a long entry on his blog listing examples of what he claimed was unfair treatment of the Palestinians by Israel.&nbsp;

"Israel is a criminal state and deserves to be condemned," he wrote late Monday.&nbsp;

"We maintain we have a right to bar Israelis from our country. When the world condemns us for this, we have a right to say that the world is being hypocritical."&nbsp;

At least 245 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March, mostly during protests and border clashes but also by tank fire and air strikes. Two Israeli soldiers have also been killed.&nbsp;

Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuse Hamas of orchestrating the protests and argue that Israel's actions are aimed at defending the border.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Polish swimmer Bart Kizierowski -- who represented his country at four Olympics -- pulled out of a job coaching the Malaysian team due to the refusal to allow Israelis to attend the tournament, local media reported.&nbsp;

In a Facebook post, Kizierowski said he rejected the position due to Malaysia's refusal to grant visas to some athletes, adding: "There is no place for that in sport."&nbsp;

The Star newspaper reported that sports officials in Malaysia had already announced his appointment.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has branded Israel a "criminal state", hitting back at a decision to strip Malaysia of the right to host a major swimming event for refusing to let Israelis participate.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has branded Israel a "criminal state", hitting back at a decision to strip Malaysia of the right to host a major swimming event for refusing to let Israelis participate. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced at the weekend that Malaysia would no longer be staging the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships as authorities had failed to provide guarantees that Israelis could take part. The championships, a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, were due to take place in Kuching from July 29-August 4. Muslim-majority Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with the Jewish state and entry to the country on an Israeli passport is forbidden, but the IPC had received assurances in 2017 that all eligible athletes would be able to participate in the event. However, the situation changed after a new government headed by 93-year-old Mahathir, long notorious for his tirades against Israel and Jews, came to power in Malaysia last year. Following the IPC decision, Mahathir struck a defiant note, with a long entry on his blog listing examples of what he claimed was unfair treatment of the Palestinians by Israel. "Israel is a criminal state and deserves to be condemned," he wrote late Monday. "We maintain we have a right to bar Israelis from our country. When the world condemns us for this, we have a right to say that the world is being hypocritical." At least 245 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March, mostly during protests and border clashes but also by tank fire and air strikes. Two Israeli soldiers have also been killed. Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuse Hamas of orchestrating the protests and argue that Israel's actions are aimed at defending the border. Meanwhile, Polish swimmer Bart Kizierowski -- who represented his country at four Olympics -- pulled out of a job coaching the Malaysian team due to the refusal to allow Israelis to attend the tournament, local media reported. In a Facebook post, Kizierowski said he rejected the position due to Malaysia's refusal to grant visas to some athletes, adding: "There is no place for that in sport." The Star newspaper reported that sports officials in Malaysia had already announced his appointment.

Malaysia PM defiant after losing swim event over Israel stance

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Sunday stripped Malaysia of the right to host the 2019 world para swimming championships after the country banned Israeli athletes from participating.

The championships, a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, had been scheduled for Kuching between July 29 and Aug. 4.

The IPC said a new venue would be sought for the same dates, although there might have to be some flexibility in light of the circumstances.

"All World Championships must be open to all eligible athletes and nations to compete safely and free from discrimination," said IPC president Andrew Parsons in a statement after a meeting of the IPC governing board in London.

"When a host country excludes athletes from a particular nation, for political reasons, then we have absolutely no alternative but to look for a new Championships host."

Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, announced this month that it would bar Israelis from any event held in the Southeast Asia nation.

Israel had condemned the ban as 'shameful' and said the decision was inspired by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's "rabid anti-Semitism".

"This is a victory of values over hatred and bigotry, a strong statement in favor of freedom and equality. Thank you @Paralympics for your brave decision," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon on Twitter.

Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, said the country stood by its decision to bar Israeli athletes.

"If hosting an international sporting event is more important than standing up for our Palestinian brothers and sisters who get murdered, maimed and tortured by the Netanyahu regime, that means Malaysia has truly loss its moral compass," he said in a statement.

"Malaysia stands firm with our decision on the ground of humanity and compassion for the Palestinian plight. We will not compromise."

Mahathir, 93, has for decades been accused of anti-Semitism for his attacks against Jews. In a BBC interview last October, he described Jews as "hook-nosed" and blamed them for the troubles in the Middle East.

Some 600 swimmers from 60 countries had been expected to compete in the championships in the eastern state of Sarawak, with more than 160 titles to be won.

The IPC said all potential replacement hosts were asked to express an interest by Feb. 11.

"The Paralympic Movement has, and always will be, motivated by a desire to drive inclusion, not exclusion," said Parsons in the statement.

"Regardless of the countries involved in this matter, the IPC would take the same decision again if it was to face a similar situation involving different countries."

He said that when Malaysia was awarded the championships in 2017, the IPC had been given assurances that all eligible athletes and countries would be allowed to participate with their safety assured.

"Since then, there has been a change of political leadership and the new Malaysian government has different ideas," said Parsons.

"Politics and sport are never a good mix and we are disappointed that Israeli athletes would not have been allowed to compete in Malaysia."

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Sunday stripped Malaysia of the right to host the 2019 world para swimming championships after the country banned Israeli athletes from participating.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Sunday stripped Malaysia of the right to host the 2019 world para swimming championships after the country banned Israeli athletes from participating. The championships, a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, had been scheduled for Kuching between July 29 and Aug. 4. The IPC said a new venue would be sought for the same dates, although there might have to be some flexibility in light of the circumstances. "All World Championships must be open to all eligible athletes and nations to compete safely and free from discrimination," said IPC president Andrew Parsons in a statement after a meeting of the IPC governing board in London. "When a host country excludes athletes from a particular nation, for political reasons, then we have absolutely no alternative but to look for a new Championships host." Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, announced this month that it would bar Israelis from any event held in the Southeast Asia nation. Israel had condemned the ban as 'shameful' and said the decision was inspired by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's "rabid anti-Semitism". "This is a victory of values over hatred and bigotry, a strong statement in favor of freedom and equality. Thank you @Paralympics for your brave decision," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon on Twitter. Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, said the country stood by its decision to bar Israeli athletes. "If hosting an international sporting event is more important than standing up for our Palestinian brothers and sisters who get murdered, maimed and tortured by the Netanyahu regime, that means Malaysia has truly loss its moral compass," he said in a statement. "Malaysia stands firm with our decision on the ground of humanity and compassion for the Palestinian plight. We will not compromise." Mahathir, 93, has for decades been accused of anti-Semitism for his attacks against Jews. In a BBC interview last October, he described Jews as "hook-nosed" and blamed them for the troubles in the Middle East. Some 600 swimmers from 60 countries had been expected to compete in the championships in the eastern state of Sarawak, with more than 160 titles to be won. The IPC said all potential replacement hosts were asked to express an interest by Feb. 11. "The Paralympic Movement has, and always will be, motivated by a desire to drive inclusion, not exclusion," said Parsons in the statement. "Regardless of the countries involved in this matter, the IPC would take the same decision again if it was to face a similar situation involving different countries." He said that when Malaysia was awarded the championships in 2017, the IPC had been given assurances that all eligible athletes and countries would be allowed to participate with their safety assured. "Since then, there has been a change of political leadership and the new Malaysian government has different ideas," said Parsons. "Politics and sport are never a good mix and we are disappointed that Israeli athletes would not have been allowed to compete in Malaysia."

Paralympics: Malaysia stripped of swim worlds after Israeli ban

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month&#39;s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, Seoul&#39;s ski association said Thursday.

Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon are accused of &quot;physically and sexually abusing female athletes&quot; at a competition in Japan this month, a Korea Ski Association (KSA) spokesman told AFP.&nbsp;

After an investigation, he said, &quot;we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently&quot;, adding the two would be barred from registering as skiers at the KSA -- a first step to taking part in competitions at home and abroad.

The move comes as a #MeToo campaign spreads across South Korea, which remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, and where women have long been reluctant to come forward with accusations against powerful men.

The KSA spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita.

They asked female athletes in the next room to join them, and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused.

The women asked South Korean police to investigate the two for assault after returning to Seoul, the KSA said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Choi is currently ranked sixth in the moguls FIS World Cup and is one of the best-known skiers in South Korea.

He reached the men&#39;s moguls final in the Pyeongchang Winter Games but did not finish his second run. Kim was eliminated in qualifying.&nbsp;

Choi said then he was seeking to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- a goal that would be impossible under the ban.&nbsp;

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, Seoul's ski association said Thursday. Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon are accused of "physically and sexually abusing female athletes" at a competition in Japan this month, a Korea Ski Association (KSA) spokesman told AFP. After an investigation, he said, "we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently", adding the two would be barred from registering as skiers at the KSA -- a first step to taking part in competitions at home and abroad. The move comes as a #MeToo campaign spreads across South Korea, which remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, and where women have long been reluctant to come forward with accusations against powerful men. The KSA spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita. They asked female athletes in the next room to join them, and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused. The women asked South Korean police to investigate the two for assault after returning to Seoul, the KSA said. Choi is currently ranked sixth in the moguls FIS World Cup and is one of the best-known skiers in South Korea. He reached the men's moguls final in the Pyeongchang Winter Games but did not finish his second run. Kim was eliminated in qualifying. Choi said then he was seeking to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- a goal that would be impossible under the ban.

Two South Korean skiers banned for life for sexual abuse

South and North Korea will not march together at the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, as they did at the Olympics last month because they cannot agree on a united flag that erases islands disputed with Japan, officials said.

Japan complained to South Korea about fans waving the Korean peninsula flag at a friendly women&#39;s ice hockey match in the Olympics between the combined North and South Korean team and Sweden.

The flag depicts a map of the undivided Korean peninsula, including the disputed islands - known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese - in the Sea of Japan, known to Koreans as the East Sea.

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The 2018 Winter Paralympics is scheduled to take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from March 9 to 18<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterParalympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterParalympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/WpkArF3JUk">https://t.co/WpkArF3JUk</a>
&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/971981552790814723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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North Korea&#39;s delegation to the Paralympics said on Thursday it &quot;does not accept the fact that Dokdo cannot be marked due to political issues held in Korea&quot;, according to the statement from the Korea Paralympic Committee.

In response to the North&#39;s claim, the International Paralympics Committee said the two Koreas will march individually as the flag cannot be changed.

The athletes from both Koreas entered together at the opening of the Pyeongchang Olympics on Feb. 9 under the united flag.

The Pyeongchang Paralympics start on Friday and will run until March 18.

North Korea&#39;s controversial participation in the Olympics helped ease tensions between the North and the United States, and Japan, over its nuclear and missiles programmes which it conducts in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions and sanctions.

Reclusive North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

&nbsp;

South and North Korea will not march together amid flag row as they cannot agree on a united flag that erases islands disputed with Japan

South and North Korea will not march together at the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, as they did at the Olympics last month because they cannot agree on a united flag that erases islands disputed with Japan, officials said. Japan complained to South Korea about fans waving the Korean peninsula flag at a friendly women's ice hockey match in the Olympics between the combined North and South Korean team and Sweden. The flag depicts a map of the undivided Korean peninsula, including the disputed islands - known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese - in the Sea of Japan, known to Koreans as the East Sea. The 2018 Winter Paralympics is scheduled to take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from March 9 to 18#WinterParalympics https://t.co/WpkArF3JUk — WION (@WIONews) March 9, 2018 × North Korea's delegation to the Paralympics said on Thursday it "does not accept the fact that Dokdo cannot be marked due to political issues held in Korea", according to the statement from the Korea Paralympic Committee. In response to the North's claim, the International Paralympics Committee said the two Koreas will march individually as the flag cannot be changed. The athletes from both Koreas entered together at the opening of the Pyeongchang Olympics on Feb. 9 under the united flag. The Pyeongchang Paralympics start on Friday and will run until March 18. North Korea's controversial participation in the Olympics helped ease tensions between the North and the United States, and Japan, over its nuclear and missiles programmes which it conducts in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions and sanctions. Reclusive North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Winter Paralympics: Two Koreas won't march together at opening ceremony

The 2018 Winter Paralympics which is officially known as the XII Paralympic Winter Games and commonly known as the <a href="https://g.co/doodle/pmjaqg">2018 PyeongChang Paralympics</a> is set to start from today with the glitzy and glamorous opening ceremony.

Winter Paralympics is an international winter multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. It is scheduled to be held in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, South Korea, from 9 to 18 March 2018.

It is governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Pyeongchang launched its third consecutive bid to&nbsp;win the hosting rights of Winter Olympic and&nbsp;<a href="https://g.co/doodle/pmjaqg">Paralympic Games</a>.&nbsp;It will be the first Winter Paralympics held in South Korea.

Recently, the mega sporting event, Winter Olympic 2018, was concluded successfully by South Korea.

Alpine skiing, Biathlon, Cross-country skiing, Ice sledge hockey, snowboarding and wheelchair curling are the games that will be included in the 2018 Winter Paralympics.

PyeongChang will be the stage for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and most snow sports.

Alpine skiing events will take place in Jeongseon, and all ice sports will be played in the coastal city of Gangneung.

&nbsp;

The 2018 Winter Paralympics is scheduled to take place in Pyeongchang County, South Korea from 9 to 18 March 2018

The 2018 Winter Paralympics which is officially known as the XII Paralympic Winter Games and commonly known as the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics is set to start from today with the glitzy and glamorous opening ceremony. Winter Paralympics is an international winter multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. It is scheduled to be held in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, South Korea, from 9 to 18 March 2018. It is governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Pyeongchang launched its third consecutive bid to win the hosting rights of Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be the first Winter Paralympics held in South Korea. Recently, the mega sporting event, Winter Olympic 2018, was concluded successfully by South Korea. Alpine skiing, Biathlon, Cross-country skiing, Ice sledge hockey, snowboarding and wheelchair curling are the games that will be included in the 2018 Winter Paralympics. PyeongChang will be the stage for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and most snow sports. Alpine skiing events will take place in Jeongseon, and all ice sports will be played in the coastal city of Gangneung.

Google celebrates 2018 Winter Paralympics kick off

South Korea and the United States will announce plans before April for a postponed joint military drill, South Korea&rsquo;s defence minister said on Tuesday.

Seoul and Washington had agreed to postpone the regular joint military exercise until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympics being hosted in South Korea, which ends on March 18.

After the decision to delay the joint exercise, North Korea agreed to hold the first official talks with South Korea in more than two years and send athletes to the Winter Games, easing a standoff over Pyongyang&rsquo;s nuclear and missile programmes.

Asked when the two countries will hold the postponed drill, Song Young-moo told parliament he and his US counterpart, Jim Mattis, would make an announcement between March 18 and the start of April.

&ldquo;The exercise was postponed according to the spirit of the Olympics,&rdquo; Song said. &ldquo;We have agreed to uphold the basis until after the Paralympics...and not to confirm nor deny anything regarding what we would do after that until we announce it&rdquo;.

Song added inter-Korean talks had not come about as a direct result of the postponed drill.

Pyongyang has warned it would not sit idle if the United States and South Korea push ahead with the postponed military exercises.

North Korea denounces the drills as preparations to invade it, and it has at times conducted missile tests or taken other aggressive action in response.

The South Korean and US militaries usually hold military exercises called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle in March and April, which can involve as many as 17,000 US troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans.

South Korea&rsquo;s Unification Minister Cho Myong-gyon said talks to stage the postponed military drill were moving forward.

&ldquo;I&lsquo;m aware negotiations are moving towards a direction where the drills will be held,&rdquo; Cho said in a separate parliamentary session on Tuesday, without elaborating.

A restart of the joint drill is an &ldquo;act of ruthlessly trampling even a small sprout of peace that has been now seen on the Korean peninsula&rdquo;, the North&rsquo;s official KCNA news agency said in a commentary on Monday.

&ldquo;It is a provocative act of chilling the active efforts of the DPRK and enthusiasm of the international community to defuse tension and create a peaceful environment&rdquo;.

North Korea&rsquo;s official name is the Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have eased since last year resulting in inter-Korean talks and the North sending a high-level delegation led by Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, and athletes to the Winter Olympics.

South Korea has also floated the idea of co-hosting the 2021 Asian Winter Games with North Korea, and a North Korean official said on Tuesday this may be possible, reported the South&rsquo;s Yonhap news agency.

North Korea may make the North&rsquo;s Masikryong ski resort available for the Games, said Chang Ung, the North&rsquo;s representative on the International Olympic Committee.

The host city for the 2021 event has not yet been decided.

Speaking to a Yonhap reporter at an airport in Beijing, the Chinese capital, Chang said it would be easier for the two sides to co-host the 2021 Asian Winter Games because there is less competition to host them, compared to the Olympics.

As to how that could come about, Chang declined to say, according to Yonhap. He was on his way back to North Korea after observing the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Reporting by Christine Kim and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez

Seoul and Washington had agreed to postpone the regular joint military exercise until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympics being hosted in South Korea, which ends on March 18

South Korea and the United States will announce plans before April for a postponed joint military drill, South Korea’s defence minister said on Tuesday. Seoul and Washington had agreed to postpone the regular joint military exercise until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympics being hosted in South Korea, which ends on March 18. After the decision to delay the joint exercise, North Korea agreed to hold the first official talks with South Korea in more than two years and send athletes to the Winter Games, easing a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes. Asked when the two countries will hold the postponed drill, Song Young-moo told parliament he and his US counterpart, Jim Mattis, would make an announcement between March 18 and the start of April. “The exercise was postponed according to the spirit of the Olympics,” Song said. “We have agreed to uphold the basis until after the Paralympics...and not to confirm nor deny anything regarding what we would do after that until we announce it”. Song added inter-Korean talks had not come about as a direct result of the postponed drill. Pyongyang has warned it would not sit idle if the United States and South Korea push ahead with the postponed military exercises. North Korea denounces the drills as preparations to invade it, and it has at times conducted missile tests or taken other aggressive action in response. The South Korean and US militaries usually hold military exercises called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle in March and April, which can involve as many as 17,000 US troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans. South Korea’s Unification Minister Cho Myong-gyon said talks to stage the postponed military drill were moving forward. “I‘m aware negotiations are moving towards a direction where the drills will be held,” Cho said in a separate parliamentary session on Tuesday, without elaborating. A restart of the joint drill is an “act of ruthlessly trampling even a small sprout of peace that has been now seen on the Korean peninsula”, the North’s official KCNA news agency said in a commentary on Monday. “It is a provocative act of chilling the active efforts of the DPRK and enthusiasm of the international community to defuse tension and create a peaceful environment”. North Korea’s official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Tensions on the Korean peninsula have eased since last year resulting in inter-Korean talks and the North sending a high-level delegation led by Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, and athletes to the Winter Olympics. South Korea has also floated the idea of co-hosting the 2021 Asian Winter Games with North Korea, and a North Korean official said on Tuesday this may be possible, reported the South’s Yonhap news agency. North Korea may make the North’s Masikryong ski resort available for the Games, said Chang Ung, the North’s representative on the International Olympic Committee. The host city for the 2021 event has not yet been decided. Speaking to a Yonhap reporter at an airport in Beijing, the Chinese capital, Chang said it would be easier for the two sides to co-host the 2021 Asian Winter Games because there is less competition to host them, compared to the Olympics. As to how that could come about, Chang declined to say, according to Yonhap. He was on his way back to North Korea after observing the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Reporting by Christine Kim and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez

South Korea to announce joint military drill plan with US before April

Russia&#39;s team will be suspended from the Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, but individual athletes will be allowed to compete under a neutral flag, the International Paralympics Committee said on Monday.

The agreement is similar to that put in place to allow able-bodied Russian competitors to take part in next month&#39;s Winter Olympics that precede the Paralympics.

Russia was suspended by the IPC in August 2016 following revelations of widespread state-sponsored doping uncovered in a report by Richard McLaren on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

After a review, the IPC said in a statement on Monday that &quot;it is maintaining the suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC)&quot;.

&quot;However, in recognition of the progress made by the RPC in improving its anti-doping activities, it will allow eligible Russian Para athletes who meet strict conditions to compete in five sports under the name Neutral Paralympic Athlete (NPA),&quot; it said.

Eligible Para athletes from Russia will be allowed to compete in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard and wheelchair curling at the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on March 9-18, the IPC said at a meeting in the western German city of Bonn.

It said that two key criteria to end the wider suspension were still outstanding -- the full reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) by WADA, and an official response adequately addressing the McLaren findings.

IPC president Andrew Parsons said that in 2016 &quot;the anti-doping system in Russia was found to be totally compromised, corrupted and open to abuse&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;This made it impossible to determine which Russian Para athletes were clean and which were not; it was clear that Russia&#39;s participation in Para sports events would severely question the integrity and credibility of sporting competition.&quot;

Parsons said the measures taken then by the IPC were &quot;necessary and proportionate&quot; and &quot;essential to ensure clean sport&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Seventeen months on, we face a different picture in Russia and it is important that once again our decision is necessary and proportionate to what is in front of us,&quot; he said.

&quot;Although the RPC remains suspended they have made significant progress and we have to recognise this.&quot;

Russian Para athletes were now regularly tested and &quot;amongst the most scrutinised Para athletes in the world&quot;, he said.&nbsp;

&quot;Under the supervision of WADA, we now have greater confidence that the anti-doping system in Russia is no longer compromised or corrupted.&quot;

Russia&#39;s Paralympic committee deputy chief Rima Batalova said the announcement was not a surprise.

&quot;We expected such a decision, taking into consideration what has happened to our Olympic team,&quot; Batalova told R-Sport agency.

Akzhana Abdikarimova, a Russian Paralympic skier and biathlete, said the announcement was &quot;not bad&quot;.

&quot;I already compete as a neutral athlete and expected that events would develop this way,&quot; she&nbsp;told R-Sport.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Eligible Para athletes from Russia will be allowed to compete in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard and wheelchair curling

Russia's team will be suspended from the Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, but individual athletes will be allowed to compete under a neutral flag, the International Paralympics Committee said on Monday. The agreement is similar to that put in place to allow able-bodied Russian competitors to take part in next month's Winter Olympics that precede the Paralympics. Russia was suspended by the IPC in August 2016 following revelations of widespread state-sponsored doping uncovered in a report by Richard McLaren on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). After a review, the IPC said in a statement on Monday that "it is maintaining the suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC)". "However, in recognition of the progress made by the RPC in improving its anti-doping activities, it will allow eligible Russian Para athletes who meet strict conditions to compete in five sports under the name Neutral Paralympic Athlete (NPA)," it said. Eligible Para athletes from Russia will be allowed to compete in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard and wheelchair curling at the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on March 9-18, the IPC said at a meeting in the western German city of Bonn. It said that two key criteria to end the wider suspension were still outstanding -- the full reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) by WADA, and an official response adequately addressing the McLaren findings. IPC president Andrew Parsons said that in 2016 "the anti-doping system in Russia was found to be totally compromised, corrupted and open to abuse". "This made it impossible to determine which Russian Para athletes were clean and which were not; it was clear that Russia's participation in Para sports events would severely question the integrity and credibility of sporting competition." Parsons said the measures taken then by the IPC were "necessary and proportionate" and "essential to ensure clean sport". "Seventeen months on, we face a different picture in Russia and it is important that once again our decision is necessary and proportionate to what is in front of us," he said. "Although the RPC remains suspended they have made significant progress and we have to recognise this." Russian Para athletes were now regularly tested and "amongst the most scrutinised Para athletes in the world", he said. "Under the supervision of WADA, we now have greater confidence that the anti-doping system in Russia is no longer compromised or corrupted." Russia's Paralympic committee deputy chief Rima Batalova said the announcement was not a surprise. "We expected such a decision, taking into consideration what has happened to our Olympic team," Batalova told R-Sport agency. Akzhana Abdikarimova, a Russian Paralympic skier and biathlete, said the announcement was "not bad". "I already compete as a neutral athlete and expected that events would develop this way," she told R-Sport.

Russia suspended from Paralympics, some athletes exempt

South Africa&#39;s Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday increased Oscar&nbsp;Pistorius&#39; murder sentence to 13 years and five months after the state argued that his original sentence of six years was &quot;shockingly lenient&quot;.

Pistorius&nbsp;was imprisoned in July last year after being found guilty on appeal of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine&#39;s Day 2013 in a case that attracted worldwide interest.

The athlete was not in court for Friday&#39;s ruling where the court handed down the minimum 15-year sentence prescribed for murder in South Africa, and subtracted the years&nbsp;Pistorius&nbsp;had already served in jail.

South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday increased Oscar Pistorius' murder sentence to 13 years and five months after the state argued that his original sentence of six years was "shockingly lenient".

South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday increased Oscar Pistorius' murder sentence to 13 years and five months after the state argued that his original sentence of six years was "shockingly lenient". Pistorius was imprisoned in July last year after being found guilty on appeal of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013 in a case that attracted worldwide interest. The athlete was not in court for Friday's ruling where the court handed down the minimum 15-year sentence prescribed for murder in South Africa, and subtracted the years Pistorius had already served in jail.

South African appeals court more than doubles Oscar Pistorius murder sentence

Deepa Malik is the first female Indian athlete ever to win a medal at the Paralympic Games. She bagged a Silver medal in this year&rsquo;s shot put event.

In 1999, a spinal tumour left Deepa confined to a wheelchair. However, she did not let the condition stop her from pursuing her passion for adventure sports.

Now, a successful entrepreneur, an award-winning athlete and a record-breaking swimmer, she is a true fighter and an inspiration.

In this special segment of Konversations, Deepa talks to us about the common misconceptions and stereotypes that exist about differently-abled individuals. 
&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="415" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWIONews%2Fvideos%2F527130630830910%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="660"></iframe>

&nbsp;

The silver-medalist at the 2016 Paralympic Games opens up about the challenges and stereotypes that the differently-abled encounter.

Deepa Malik is the first female Indian athlete ever to win a medal at the Paralympic Games. She bagged a Silver medal in this year’s shot put event. In 1999, a spinal tumour left Deepa confined to a wheelchair. However, she did not let the condition stop her from pursuing her passion for adventure sports. Now, a successful entrepreneur, an award-winning athlete and a record-breaking swimmer, she is a true fighter and an inspiration. In this special segment of Konversations, Deepa talks to us about the common misconceptions and stereotypes that exist about differently-abled individuals.

Deepa Malik: Defying the odds and reshaping perceptions

Egypt&#39;s Ibrahim Hamadtou with no arms represented his country at the Paralympic Games of Rio 2016. The 43-year-old became a YouTube sensation after he showcased his amazing athletic skills, clenching the paddle between his teeth.&nbsp;

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Ibrahim Hamad (AFP)
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&nbsp;

Ibrahim lost his arms as a kid in a train accident when he was ten years old but never lost passion for the sport. As a kid he stayed at home for three years out of embarrassment&nbsp;but challenged himself to overcome his physical disability. Working his way out of depression, he practiced day in and out to use to use his disability to his advantage. It took him a while to hold a TT bat with his mouth but has now become a world-class player and a Paralympian to top it. 
&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aDdh2439hnU" width="560"></iframe>

(Source: ITTF official YouTube channel) 
 
Ibrahim is a symbol of inspiration for many like him who want to go beyond adversities to make a name for themselves. Though he didn&rsquo;t collect any medal&nbsp;at the Paralympic Games, his life is nothing short of achieving the unattainable.&nbsp;

Ibrahim Hamadtou, who hails from Egypt, is an inspiration for all

Egypt's Ibrahim Hamadtou with no arms represented his country at the Paralympic Games of Rio 2016. The 43-year-old became a YouTube sensation after he showcased his amazing athletic skills, clenching the paddle between his teeth. Ibrahim Hamad (AFP) × Ibrahim lost his arms as a kid in a train accident when he was ten years old but never lost passion for the sport. As a kid he stayed at home for three years out of embarrassment but challenged himself to overcome his physical disability. Working his way out of depression, he practiced day in and out to use to use his disability to his advantage. It took him a while to hold a TT bat with his mouth but has now become a world-class player and a Paralympian to top it. (Source: ITTF official YouTube channel) Ibrahim is a symbol of inspiration for many like him who want to go beyond adversities to make a name for themselves. Though he didn’t collect any medal at the Paralympic Games, his life is nothing short of achieving the unattainable.

#BeTheChange: He plays table tennis with his mouth and foot

The man who won the 1500 metres at the Rio Paralympics ran faster than the man who won the same race at the recently-concluded Rio Olympics.&nbsp; 
 
Algeria&rsquo;s Abdellatif Baka won the T13 1500m in a record-breaking time of 3 minutes and 48.29 seconds while the man who won at the Rio Olympics -- the USA&rsquo;s Matthew Centrowitz -- did so in 3:50:00 minutes.&nbsp; 
 
In short, Baka was more than 1.7seconds faster than Centrowitz.&nbsp; 
 
And while that would have been surprising (and smile-inducing enough), there was still more to the story.&nbsp; 
 
The men who came second, third, and fourth also ran faster than Centrowitz.&nbsp; 
 
T13 is a classification for athletes who suffer visual impairment. There are two other classes -- T12 and T11. The lower the numbers, the more severe the impairment.&nbsp; 
 
WION)

Algeria?s Abdellatif Baka won in 3 mins & 48.29 secs; he was more than 1.7 seconds faster than the Olympic winner

The man who won the 1500 metres at the Rio Paralympics ran faster than the man who won the same race at the recently-concluded Rio Olympics. Algeria’s Abdellatif Baka won the T13 1500m in a record-breaking time of 3 minutes and 48.29 seconds while the man who won at the Rio Olympics -- the USA’s Matthew Centrowitz -- did so in 3:50:00 minutes. In short, Baka was more than 1.7seconds faster than Centrowitz. And while that would have been surprising (and smile-inducing enough), there was still more to the story. The men who came second, third, and fourth also ran faster than Centrowitz. T13 is a classification for athletes who suffer visual impairment. There are two other classes -- T12 and T11. The lower the numbers, the more severe the impairment. WION)

Rio Paralympics: First four 1,500m finishers run faster than man who won gold at OIympics

Day two at the Rio Paralympics saw Indian athlete, Mariyappan Thangavelu, win India&#39;s first gold in the men&#39;s high jump T-42 event on Friday. 
 
While another Indian Varun Singh Bhati picked up a bronze for the same. 
 
Thangavelu clinched gold with a jump of 1.89m while Bhati scaled 1.68, winning a bronze India&#39;s state-run news channel Doordarshan said. 
 
India&#39;s sports ministry announced a cash prize of Rs 75 lakh for&nbsp;Mariyappan Thangavelu and R 30 lakh for&nbsp;Varun Singh Bhati. 
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Under Sports Ministry&#39;s Cash Award Scheme, Mariyappan will get 75 lac and Bhati 30 lac rupees. Congrats.
&mdash; Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaSports/status/774467845321285632">September 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
 
 
T42 is a disabilty sport classification for differently-abled athletes with single above the knee amputations or a disability that is comparable. 
 
After Paralympians Murlikant Petkar (Swimming in 1972) and Devendra Jhajharai (Javelin Throw in 2004), Thangavelu is the third Indian to win gold at the Paralympic Games. 
 
Thangavelu is from a small village, Periavadagampatti, 50 km from the town of Salem in southern Tamil Nadu state. 
 
A bus accident at the age of five left him permanently disabled. 
 
Varun Singh Bhati was born deformed, diagnosed with polio in one leg. The 21-year-old from the northern Uttar Pradesh state came fifth at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Korea and a gold at the 2014 China Open Athletics Championships. 
 
(WION with inputs from dna) 
 
 
&nbsp;

India's sports ministry announced a cash prize of Rs 75 lakh for?Mariyappan Thangavelu and Rs 30 lakh for?Varun Singh Bhati

Day two at the Rio Paralympics saw Indian athlete, Mariyappan Thangavelu, win India's first gold in the men's high jump T-42 event on Friday. While another Indian Varun Singh Bhati picked up a bronze for the same. Thangavelu clinched gold with a jump of 1.89m while Bhati scaled 1.68, winning a bronze India's state-run news channel Doordarshan said. India's sports ministry announced a cash prize of Rs 75 lakh for Mariyappan Thangavelu and R 30 lakh for Varun Singh Bhati. Under Sports Ministry's Cash Award Scheme, Mariyappan will get 75 lac and Bhati 30 lac rupees. Congrats. — Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports) September 10, 2016 T42 is a disabilty sport classification for differently-abled athletes with single above the knee amputations or a disability that is comparable. After Paralympians Murlikant Petkar (Swimming in 1972) and Devendra Jhajharai (Javelin Throw in 2004), Thangavelu is the third Indian to win gold at the Paralympic Games. Thangavelu is from a small village, Periavadagampatti, 50 km from the town of Salem in southern Tamil Nadu state. A bus accident at the age of five left him permanently disabled. Varun Singh Bhati was born deformed, diagnosed with polio in one leg. The 21-year-old from the northern Uttar Pradesh state came fifth at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Korea and a gold at the 2014 China Open Athletics Championships. (WION with inputs from dna)

Rio Paralympics: Thangavelu wins first gold for India, Bhati picks up bronze

Rio de Janeiro set aside worries over finances, ticket sales and politics for a spectacular opening show Wednesday welcoming thousands of athletes to the start of the&nbsp;Paralympics.

Blind, missing limbs or partially paralyzed, the world&#39;s toughest and most competitive disabled were to parade in the famed Maracana football stadium ahead of 11 days of contests.

For Rio, the&nbsp;Paralympics, coming right after a vibrant, but sometimes tricky Olympics, are one more challenge in a period of deep recession and political instability.

But all those worries were to be set aside for the sporting extravaganza where top stars include Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman, Britain&#39;s wheelchair racer David Weir and China&#39;s blind sprinter Liu Cuiqing.

&quot;These are going to be the people&#39;s Games. You can&#39;t come to a more passionate people for sport,&quot; International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven said at a press conference Wednesday in Rio.

He said that 4,342 athletes from 159 countries, plus members of the international refugee team, were taking part and quipped: &quot;All I saw were happy athletes in the Village.&quot;

Noting that the Games would be broadcast in 154 countries, Craven said the&nbsp;Paralympics&nbsp;had the power to change the way people around the world think about the disabled.

&quot;That&#39;s where transformation happens,&quot; he said. 
 
Olympics chief controversy

However, controversy hung over the opening ceremony after confirmation that International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will not be attending. This would be the first absence of an IOC chief since the 1984 Summer Games.

Bach is reportedly due at a mourning ceremony in Berlin for the late West German president, Walter Scheel. South African IOC member Sam Ramsamy was taking Bach&#39;s place.

However, there have been suggestions that the no-show has to do with divisions over the Paralympic committee&#39;s outright ban on Russian athletes after allegations of a state-sanctioned doping program and the IOC&#39;s relatively softer line.

&quot;Whether there&#39;s anything else -- I don&#39;t know if there&#39;s anything else,&quot; Craven said of Bach&#39;s decision.

Russian para-athletes, who finished second behind China in the London 2012 medals table, were barred last month following a World Anti-Doping Agency report which alleged a vast state-sponsored doping program.

Separately UK Athletics will review classifications after the Games, according to BBC News, following concerns that athletes were being mismatched to create an unfair advantage.

&quot;We are here to win medals, but within both the letter and the spirit of the&nbsp;Paralympics,&quot; insisted British Paralympic Association chief Tim Hollingsworth.

Tickets surge

Two new events -- canoe-kayak and triathlon -- will make their appearance on the 22-sport menu.

Six countries are sending athletes for the very first time, and Syrian swimmer Ibrahim Al-Hussein, who lost a leg in an explosion in his nation&#39;s civil war, and Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour make up a two-strong refugee team.

Caught in political and economic crises, Rio 2016 organizers have skimped as far as they can on food, transport and accommodation.

The runup to the Games was also overshadowed by slow ticket sales. This follows concerns about half-empty stadiums at many of the Olympic events.

But organizers have reported a dramatic turnaround in the last few days.

&quot;Two weeks ago we were at 200,000&quot; tickets sold, Craven said. Now sales have reached 1.6 million and are &quot;growing every day.&quot;

&quot;We&#39;ll soon be over the 1.7 million mark. Our aim is to sell around 2.4 million,&quot; he said.

Stars 
 
The record of 41 career gold medals won by blind American swimmer Trischa Zorn between 1980 and 2004 looks unbeatable, but the&nbsp;Paralympics&nbsp;will inevitably produce new stars.

Iran&#39;s 28-year-old Rahman, disabled since birth, is aiming to become the first Paralympian to bench press 300kg.

China will have its biggest ever team of 308 athletes in Rio looking to beat their 95 gold medals from London when they topped the table for the third straight&nbsp;Paralympics.

They have swimmer Xu Qing competing in his fourth and possibly last Games, seeking to add to his seven gold medals.

Meanwhile Britain&#39;s Weir is in Rio to add to his six gold medals. The 37-year-old, born with a spinal deformity that has kept him confined to a wheelchair since birth, is entered in five events.

&quot;It will be my last&nbsp;Paralympics&nbsp;and I just want to medal,&quot; he said. &quot;If I come away with a medal, I&#39;ll be happy. My coach is telling me that I&#39;m quicker and faster than I&#39;ve ever been, so that gives me a lot of confidence.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

More than 4,000 athletes from 159 countries, plus members of the international refugee team, will take part in the Games

Rio de Janeiro set aside worries over finances, ticket sales and politics for a spectacular opening show Wednesday welcoming thousands of athletes to the start of the Paralympics. Blind, missing limbs or partially paralyzed, the world's toughest and most competitive disabled were to parade in the famed Maracana football stadium ahead of 11 days of contests. For Rio, the Paralympics, coming right after a vibrant, but sometimes tricky Olympics, are one more challenge in a period of deep recession and political instability. But all those worries were to be set aside for the sporting extravaganza where top stars include Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman, Britain's wheelchair racer David Weir and China's blind sprinter Liu Cuiqing. "These are going to be the people's Games. You can't come to a more passionate people for sport," International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven said at a press conference Wednesday in Rio. He said that 4,342 athletes from 159 countries, plus members of the international refugee team, were taking part and quipped: "All I saw were happy athletes in the Village." Noting that the Games would be broadcast in 154 countries, Craven said the Paralympics had the power to change the way people around the world think about the disabled. "That's where transformation happens," he said. Olympics chief controversy However, controversy hung over the opening ceremony after confirmation that International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will not be attending. This would be the first absence of an IOC chief since the 1984 Summer Games. Bach is reportedly due at a mourning ceremony in Berlin for the late West German president, Walter Scheel. South African IOC member Sam Ramsamy was taking Bach's place. However, there have been suggestions that the no-show has to do with divisions over the Paralympic committee's outright ban on Russian athletes after allegations of a state-sanctioned doping program and the IOC's relatively softer line. "Whether there's anything else -- I don't know if there's anything else," Craven said of Bach's decision. Russian para-athletes, who finished second behind China in the London 2012 medals table, were barred last month following a World Anti-Doping Agency report which alleged a vast state-sponsored doping program. Separately UK Athletics will review classifications after the Games, according to BBC News, following concerns that athletes were being mismatched to create an unfair advantage. "We are here to win medals, but within both the letter and the spirit of the Paralympics," insisted British Paralympic Association chief Tim Hollingsworth. Tickets surge Two new events -- canoe-kayak and triathlon -- will make their appearance on the 22-sport menu. Six countries are sending athletes for the very first time, and Syrian swimmer Ibrahim Al-Hussein, who lost a leg in an explosion in his nation's civil war, and Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour make up a two-strong refugee team. Caught in political and economic crises, Rio 2016 organizers have skimped as far as they can on food, transport and accommodation. The runup to the Games was also overshadowed by slow ticket sales. This follows concerns about half-empty stadiums at many of the Olympic events. But organizers have reported a dramatic turnaround in the last few days. "Two weeks ago we were at 200,000" tickets sold, Craven said. Now sales have reached 1.6 million and are "growing every day." "We'll soon be over the 1.7 million mark. Our aim is to sell around 2.4 million," he said. Stars The record of 41 career gold medals won by blind American swimmer Trischa Zorn between 1980 and 2004 looks unbeatable, but the Paralympics will inevitably produce new stars. Iran's 28-year-old Rahman, disabled since birth, is aiming to become the first Paralympian to bench press 300kg. China will have its biggest ever team of 308 athletes in Rio looking to beat their 95 gold medals from London when they topped the table for the third straight Paralympics. They have swimmer Xu Qing competing in his fourth and possibly last Games, seeking to add to his seven gold medals. Meanwhile Britain's Weir is in Rio to add to his six gold medals. The 37-year-old, born with a spinal deformity that has kept him confined to a wheelchair since birth, is entered in five events. "It will be my last Paralympics and I just want to medal," he said. "If I come away with a medal, I'll be happy. My coach is telling me that I'm quicker and faster than I've ever been, so that gives me a lot of confidence." (AFP)

Rio sets aside problems to open Paralympic Games

Rio Paralympics 2016, a major international multi-sporting event for people with disabilities, kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on September 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.&nbsp; 
 
The ceremony played true to its event&#39;s meaning as American Aaron &quot;Wheelz&quot; Fotheringham, a wheelchair athlete, jumped from a massive ramp from the Maracana stands and performed a back flip through a giant ring. Rio organisers said that over 1.5 million tickets were sold for the event.&nbsp; 
 
Here are the seven things that you need to know about the popular sporting event. 
 
What&#39;s in the name?&nbsp; 
 
The &#39;para&#39; in Paralympics is a Greek prefix meaning &#39;alongside&#39; or &#39;parallel to&#39;. Thus, the term Paralympics means &#39;parallel to Olympics&#39;. 
 
While most of you would be aware of the significance of the Olympics logo, the Paralympics logo is &nbsp;less familiar. The symbol consists of three agitos (red, blue and green) encircling a single point. These three colours were chosen because they are most widely represented in national flags across the world. 
 
World in a logo 
 
The new Paralympic Symbol (logo) was launched in 2003. It is a symbol in motion, with three Agitos (from the Latin meaning &#39;I move&#39;) encircling a centre point; emphasizing the role that the IPC has of bringing athletes from all corners of the world together and enabling them to compete. 
 
 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/2000px-ipc_logo_(2004).svg-20160907114638.png" />
<div class="media-description">
Logo of the Paralympic games
</div>
The beginning&nbsp; 
 
The games began in 1948, but were called the Stoke Mandeville Games at that time. They became the Paralympics only in 1960 and were held in Rome. The first Winter Paralympics took place in 1967. 
 
World&#39;s second largest multi-sport event 
 
The Paralympics are the second largest multi-sport event in the world, second to the Olympics. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/gettyimages-82773060%20(1)-20160908073805.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>
Exclusive Paralympics sports 
 
Goalball (for the blind and visually-impaired) and Boccia are two sports that are unique to the Paralympics. 
 
Participation 
 
Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will compete in 528 events in 22 different sports. The Paralympics ceremony will see a participation from around 500 professional staff and 2,000 volunteers. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/gettyimages-1924534%20(1)-20160908073643.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Andrew Hodge waves after winning gold medal in the 100 m event during the 1992 Paralympics.
</div>
 
Key players from South Asia&nbsp; 
 
The key players from South Asia include Afghanistan&#39;s Mohammad Naiem Durani, India&#39;s Devendra Jhajaria and Amit Kumar Saroha, Nepal&#39;s Bikram Rana and Laxmi Kunwar, Sri Lanka&#39;s Anil Prasanna and Pakistan&#39;s Haider Ali. 
 
2016 Rio Paralympic Games are to be held from September 7 to September 18 at Rio&rsquo;s iconic Maracana Stadium. 
 
Contributions by Ashna Mishra 
 
(WION Edge)
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>

The international multi-sporting event kicked off on Wednesday (September 7) with a spectacular opening ceremony

Rio Paralympics 2016, a major international multi-sporting event for people with disabilities, kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on September 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The ceremony played true to its event's meaning as American Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, a wheelchair athlete, jumped from a massive ramp from the Maracana stands and performed a back flip through a giant ring. Rio organisers said that over 1.5 million tickets were sold for the event. Here are the seven things that you need to know about the popular sporting event. What's in the name? The 'para' in Paralympics is a Greek prefix meaning 'alongside' or 'parallel to'. Thus, the term Paralympics means 'parallel to Olympics'. While most of you would be aware of the significance of the Olympics logo, the Paralympics logo is less familiar. The symbol consists of three agitos (red, blue and green) encircling a single point. These three colours were chosen because they are most widely represented in national flags across the world. World in a logo The new Paralympic Symbol (logo) was launched in 2003. It is a symbol in motion, with three Agitos (from the Latin meaning 'I move') encircling a centre point; emphasizing the role that the IPC has of bringing athletes from all corners of the world together and enabling them to compete. Logo of the Paralympic games The beginning The games began in 1948, but were called the Stoke Mandeville Games at that time. They became the Paralympics only in 1960 and were held in Rome. The first Winter Paralympics took place in 1967. World's second largest multi-sport event The Paralympics are the second largest multi-sport event in the world, second to the Olympics. Exclusive Paralympics sports Goalball (for the blind and visually-impaired) and Boccia are two sports that are unique to the Paralympics. Participation Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will compete in 528 events in 22 different sports. The Paralympics ceremony will see a participation from around 500 professional staff and 2,000 volunteers. Andrew Hodge waves after winning gold medal in the 100 m event during the 1992 Paralympics. Key players from South Asia The key players from South Asia include Afghanistan's Mohammad Naiem Durani, India's Devendra Jhajaria and Amit Kumar Saroha, Nepal's Bikram Rana and Laxmi Kunwar, Sri Lanka's Anil Prasanna and Pakistan's Haider Ali. 2016 Rio Paralympic Games are to be held from September 7 to September 18 at Rio’s iconic Maracana Stadium. Contributions by Ashna Mishra (WION Edge)

Rio Paralympics 2016: Seven things you need to know

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