The decision comes less than a day after the IPC initially allowed athletes on both sides to compete as neutrals under the Paralympic flag and Paralympic anthem.
IPC President Andrew Parsons said on Wednesday that Russian athletes should not be seen as “aggressors” and that the organization’s board does not have the power to ban athletes directly as a result of its constitution.
However, the IPC said in a statement Thursday that many National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), teams and athletes are now threatening not to compete and that the situation in the athletes’ villages is “escalating” […] and ensuring the safety of athletes has become untenable. “
“It is not our fault that the war has already come to these games and behind the scenes many governments are influencing our costly event,” Parsons said.
“In making our decision yesterday, we were looking 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.
“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.
“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 serious 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.
“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, “Parsons added.
A total of 71 Russian and 12 Belarusian Paralympic athletes, along with leaders for both nations, had to compete in the Games, which begin on Friday with the opening ceremony.