there had been a wave of protests and threats to boycott the games, after those athletes had initially been told they could take part. the build up has been dominated by the invasion of ukraine. joe lynskey has more. today invasion, the light flame folly paralympic games that is overshadowed. dominated by the war in you came. 71 russian para athletes have now been removed, and 12 from belarus. the only way to stop mass boycotts and allow these games to go ahead. it is stop mass boycotts and allow these games to go ahead. games to go ahead. it is hard, but we cannot games to go ahead. it is hard, but we cannot pretend games to go ahead. it is hard, but we cannot pretend sport games to go ahead. it is hard, but we cannot pretend sport and - games to go ahead. it is hard, but l we cannot pretend sport and politics are not linked. the medal table is a soft politics. so it is very tough,
to appeal and their athletes would be leaving china. with more, here s our reporterjoe lynskey. today in beijing, they light the flame for a paralympic games that is overshadowed. preparations dominated by the war in ukraine and it has changed the competition. 71 russian para athletes have now been removed and 12 from belarus. the only way to stop mass boycotts and make these games go ahead. it is stop mass boycotts and make these games go ahead- games go ahead. it is hard but we cannot keep games go ahead. it is hard but we cannot keep pretending games go ahead. it is hard but we cannot keep pretending sport - games go ahead. it is hard but we cannot keep pretending sport and| cannot keep pretending sport and politics are not linked. the medal table is soft politics, so it is really tough. but unfortunately, we are in a situation that none of us experience in our lifetime. russia sa the experience in our lifetime. russia say the ipc s experience in our lifetime. russia say the