The IPC says athletes can compete as neutrals, despite calls for a ban following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes have been allowed to participate in the Beijing Winter Paralympics as neutrals, despite growing pressure for a ban following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced the decision on Wednesday, saying athletes from both countries will compete under the Paralympic flag and will not be included in the medal table.
The decision came when Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine entered its seventh day. Belarus, an important ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has offered strategic assistance to deploy troops by accepting Russian troops and allowing them to cross their southern border.
Last week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) advised sports federations and organizers not to invite or allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate in international competitions. If time or legal restrictions do not allow such actions, the IOC called on sports organizations to accept Russian and Belarusian athletes only as neutral.
The IOC Executive Board does not recommend the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials https://t.co/XZyLIi11XR
– IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) February 28, 2022
At least 400 civilians have been killed and more than 800,000 have fled Ukraine since Russia launched the invasion last week, sparking widespread reaction from the international community, including the sports world.
UK Culture Minister Nadine Doris, who is in charge of the sport, denied the IPC’s decision, saying she was “extremely disappointed”.
“This is the wrong decision and I urge them to reconsider it urgently,” she said in a statement posted on Twitter. “They must join the rest of the world in condemning this barbaric invasion by banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing,” she added.
Doris added that she would consider options to protest the decision.
My statement on the decision of the International Paralympic Committee 👇 pic.twitter.com/HwxoXsrJMe
– Nadine Doris (@NadineDorries) March 2, 2022
The Canadian Paralympic Committee has said it supports sanctions against Russia and Belarus, but would like the two countries to be expelled immediately. The CPC added that it is awaiting a special meeting to review the membership status of the IPC.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee supports the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus today by the International Paralympic Committee for their attacks on Ukraine. ➡️
https://t.co/qa76QW6S5i pic.twitter.com/36gepb1dj9– Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) March 2, 2022
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said it was “disappointed” that the IPC decision “excuses Russia’s disregard for not only the Olympic truce but also the victims of a senseless war,” a statement said Wednesday.
The IPC will also host an extraordinary meeting on “whether to suspend or terminate membership in the Russian Paralympic Committee and the Belarusian Paralympic Committee”, the statement said, adding that it would not hold any events in Russia or Belarus until further notice. .
The move of the IPC came after FIFA and UEFA, respectively the world and European football governing bodies, banned athletes from Russia and Belarus, while depriving them of the Champions League final this season.