SOCHI, Russia -- Ukraine will compete in the Winter Paralympics in Sochi despite Russias military moves in Crimea. The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee decided against boycotting the games, announcing a few hours before Fridays opening ceremony that its athletes would stay. The decision came after discussions between Ukrainian officials and athletes over whether to pull out in light of the crisis back home and Russias military takeover of the Crimean peninsula. "We are staying at the Paralympics," Valeriy Sushkevich, president of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, said at a news conference. However, he added that the circumstances were far from ideal. "I dont remember a situation when the organizing country during a Paralympics started an intervention on the territory of a country taking part," Sushkevich said, according to the R-Sport agency. "I dont know what to extent the team can focus on the result now." The Ukrainian official said the team would leave Sochi if there is any escalation of military conflict. "I declare should this happen we will leave the games," Sushkevich said. "We cannot possibly stay here in this case." He said he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night to discuss the situation and request peace during the games. Suskevich said he did not receive any guarantees but it was important that Putin agreed to listen. Putin and IOC President Thomas Bach are expected to attend Fridays opening ceremony. Several countries have decided not to send political leaders or dignitaries to the ceremony in protest of Russias actions in Ukraine. Ukraines decision to compete in Sochi was welcomed by the International Paralympic Committee. "We want sport to prevail and a full complement of teams to compete in what we are confident will be a fantastic Paralympic Winter Games," IPC President Phillip Craven said. "All week the IPC has been working closely with the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee in an effort to keep them here in Sochi. The talking point of Sochi 2014 needs to be great sport and great athletes, not global politics." The IPC has appealed for Russia to recognize the U.N.s Olympic Truce, which asks warring parties to cease hostilities during the Olympics and Paralympics. About 575 athletes from 45 countries are due to compete in the 10-day Paralympics. Five sports are on the program -- alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. Ukraine has entered 23 athletes for the Sochi Paralympics. It finished fifth in the medals table at the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver in 2010, with a total of 19 medals and five gold. Ukrainian athletes chanted "peace to Ukraine" as they apparently walked out of a flag-raising ceremony in Sochi on Thursday night. That is now under investigation by the IPC as a possible breach of rules banning political protests. "What were trying to do is gather the evidence, gather the transcripts and then we will see if any steps are necessary," IPC spokesman Craig Spence said. "If there was a political protest, obviously wed be disappointed by that because we have said all week that this is about sport, not politics." Authentic Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . Some teams got significantly better, some teams divested themselves of talent and some teams had quiet afternoons, keeping the status quo. Cheap Dallas Cowboys Gear . Or take a relaxing vacation somewhere warm. Brayden Schenn and Scott Hartnell scored, Ray Emery stopped 32 shots and the Flyers beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. http://www.cowboyscheap.com/64d-cheap-trysten-hill-jersey-cowboys.html . Fabio Fognini pulled off a surprise 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to level the best-of-five quarterfinal at 2-2 before Andreas Seppi defeated James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive match. Discount Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . A quick first step to get to the hoop for a layup. A rousing dunk on the break off a high outlet pass saved by teammate Ramon Sessions. Stitched Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . The judge sternly instructed the prosecutor to restrain himself and he apologized -- then went right back to trying to pick holes in the testimony of the double-amputee runner. It was a harsh day of cross-examination for Pistorius, challenged relentlessly about his account of the moments just before he killed Reeva Steenkamp, as well as circumstances related to several firearms charges against him, including the firing of a gun in a crowded restaurant.HAMILTON - Playing their third game in as many days, the Hamilton Bulldogs salvaged their weekend with an energetic, 60-minute effort on Sunday. Martin St. Pierre scored two goals, including the game winner in the second period, as the Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage in the American Hockey League. "Travelling has been hectic this weekend, but were not a team that makes excuses," said St. Pierre. "If we lose while were working hard, well take the loss. We felt that we played well this weekend and just didnt get the bounces. "We knew that it has to be mind over matter when you have three games over two and a half days." Mike Blunden also had a goal for the Bulldogs (23-25-5) and Dustin Tokarski made 32 saves. Quinton Howden scored the lone goal for the Rampage (23-23-8), while Jacob Markstrom stopped 28 shots in a losing effort. Hamilton got off to a promising start, challenging Markstrom early and often in the first period. Offensive pressure paid dividends when the Bulldogs opened the scoring through their captain at 7:25. Greg Pateryn carried the puck in from the blue line and released a low, hard shot toward the far post that Markstrom kicked into St. Pierres path as he streaked in from the left wing. St. Pierre reacted quickly and fired the puck past the sprawling goaltender before he could recover his position. The Bulldogs lead nearly doubled three minutes later, when Sven Andrighetto threaded a centring pass through the San Antonio defence that found Maxime Macenauer in the low slot. But Markstrom slid to his right and snared the centres ensuing wrist shot with his glove. Hamilton head coach Sylvain Lefebvre was encouraged by his teams strong start, and argued that it had become a recent trend. "The one thing that stood out this weekend was that we started all three games very strongly," said Lefebvre. "Tonight, we stuck with it and kept going." A bright first period was dimmed sommewhat when the Bulldogs were assessed two minor penalties at the same stoppage of play at 19:26, as Gabriel Dumont was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after arguing a slashing penalty to Blunden.dddddddddddd. The exchange meant that Hamilton would have to survive 1:11 of 5-on-3 hockey early in the second period. Those penalties passed without incident, but the Rampage made the most of their next power-play opportunity when Louis Leblanc was whistled for hooking at 7:10 of the second period. Tokarski knocked aside Ryan Martindales initial shot from the slot with his blocking glove, but the forward recovered his rebound and chipped a quick shot that Howden tipped past the goaltender at 8:06. Markstrom was tested several times as the Bulldogs pushed for a second goal, and came up with consecutive saves to deny St. Pierre and Sven Andrighetto in quick succession midway through the period. But there was little that he could do to prevent the eventual breakthrough, as Nathan Beaulieus point shot rebounded high into the air, and St. Pierre was waiting as it dropped to slide it past the goaltender at the near post at 12:15. The Bulldogs added some insurance on the power play at 6:29 of the third period. Markstrom turned aside Nick Tarnaskys initial shot, but Mike Blunden was posted in the low slot and corralled the rebound, easily slotting it past the goaltender. Hamilton successfully crowded Markstroms crease on Sunday, and Lefebvre stated that the Bulldogs will have to continue that tactic in the future. "We need to do that," he said. "We dont score too many highlight-reel goals. We grind them out, and thats our trademark. Thats who we are. "Some nights we dont want to pay the price as much and it shows. But this weekend we did, and we competed all weekend." The Bulldogs went 1-4 with the man advantage, while the Rampage were 1-3. Note: The Montreal Canadiens announced the call up of Hamilton defenceman Jarred Tinordi midway through Sundays game. Cheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '