Russian and Belarusian athletes will be removed from the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games in 2022 after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) overturned its initial decision.
The IPC’s announcement Wednesday that athletes from those countries would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag was met with criticism and the threat of a boycott.
However, this decision has been revoked and means that paraathletes from these respective countries will no longer be eligible to participate in the Games, which open on March 4, 2022.
Andrew Parsons, President of the IPC, said: “At the IPC, we are very firmly convinced that sport and politics should not be mixed.
“However, the war was not our fault because of these games, and behind the scenes, many governments are influencing our secret event.
“IPC is a membership-based organization and we are receptive to the views of our member organizations.
“When our members elected the Board in December 2021, it had to uphold and uphold the principles, values and rules of the Paralympic Movement. As members of the board, this is a responsibility and an obligation we take very seriously.
“In making our decision yesterday, we looked at the long-term health and survival of the Paralympic movement. We are very proud of the principles and values that made the Movement what it is today.
The Board of Directors of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has decided to refuse the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus for the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2022.
“It is clear, however, that the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games.
“Yesterday we said we would keep listening and we are doing it.
“Over the last 12 hours, a huge number of members have contacted us and were very open, for which I am grateful.
They told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have dire consequences for the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Winter Games.
“Many NPCs, some of which have been linked by their governments, teams and athletes, are threatening not to compete.
“Ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us and the situation in sports villages is escalating and is now untenable.
IPC President Andrew Parsons insists that ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us
“First of all, we have an obligation as part of the Paralympic mission enshrined in the constitution to guarantee and control the organization of successful Paralympic Games, to ensure that the sport practiced within the Paralympic movement is dominated by the spirit of fair play, violence is prohibited, the risk to the health of athletes is managed and the basic ethical principles are observed.
“With this in mind and in order to preserve the integrity of these games and the safety of all participants, we decided to reject the applications of athletes from RPC and NPC Belarus.
“As far as parachutists from the countries concerned are concerned, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions that your governments took last week to violate the Olympic truce. You are a victim of the actions of your governments.
The athletes have already arrived in Beijing, and the opening ceremony will take place on Friday
“The well-being of athletes is and will always be a major concern for us. As a result of today’s decision, 83 parachutists are directly affected by this decision.
“However, if RPC and NPC Belarus stay here in Beijing, then the nations are likely to withdraw. We probably won’t have viable Games. If this happens, the impact will be much wider.
“I hope and pray that we can return to a situation where the conversation and focus is entirely on the power of sport to transform the lives of people with disabilities and the best of humanity.”
The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games begins on Friday.
Governing bodies in the world of sports were left to make decisions after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine
The invasion of Ukraine left the governing bodies in the world of sports to make decisions for Russia and Belarus.
After huge pressure, FIFA and UEFA decided to remove Russia from all competitions until further notice.
Russian and Belarusian athletes were also excluded from the World Athletics Series indefinitely.
The International Tennis Federation has stopped these countries from membership and team competitions, but individual players are still competing in the men’s and women’s professional tours.
The same is the case in Formula One, after the FIA allowed the Russians to compete as neutrals, although Motorsport UK will not allow Haas driver Nikita Mazepin to compete in the British Grand Prix this summer.