The Russian Paralympians who were barred from competing in the Winter Games in Beijing have returned home to a heroes' welcome.
Amid the country's invasion of Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee [IPC] came under pressure to issue a blanket ban on all competitors from Russian and Belarus, a notion they initially refused, instead ruling that they could participate as neutrals.
However, that decision was widely vilified and ahead of the opening ceremony last Friday, IPC President Andrew Parsons announced the organisation had performed a u-turn and confirmed athletes from both countries would be forbidden from taking part.
During the ceremony itself, Parsons used his speech to voice his opposition to the conflict, saying: "The 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy, not war and hate."
Both teams were already in Beijing by the time this decision was taken, but on Sunday the Russians flew back into Sheremetyevo Airport, in Moscow, to a huge ovation from compatriots who had turned up to welcome them home.
Fans chanted ' Russia, Russia' and sang songs while many held up supportive signs, waved national flags and photographed the 72-person team as they made their way through the airport.
"I hope that this won't happen again, for us, it was a shock. For us, sport is not only competition, but a way of life," said one athlete, as she addressed the crowds.
"It inspires us and is an opportunity to fulfil our potential. To ban us from it is like to ban us from breathing."
Also on the footage, that was posted on Twitter by Reuters Sports, one supporter said "We came here to support our athletes. We want to fight against the injustice done to them because they are Russian citizens."
Last week, Russian state-owned news agency Tass had reported that the athletes would appeal the decision but on Friday, Russia’s Paralympic Committee said it was unable to do so because of the IPC’s rules.
Tass also quoted Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin saying the decision to bar his country’s team was a “blatant violation of athletes’ rights and a manipulation of the Olympic Charter and human lives’ values in pursuit of political goals."
The IPC are just one of numerous sporting organisations to impose sanctions on Russia since their invasion began.
