At a special meeting on Thursday, March 3, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided to ban athletes from the Russia-Belarus Paralympic Committees from participating in the Beijing Paralympic Games, which will begin on March 4.
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As early as Wednesday, the IPC decided that the Russian and Belarusian Paralympians would be allowed to start under a neutral flag, but as tensions escalated at the Beijing Paralympic Games, the IPC changed its mind and expelled the Russian and Belarusian Paralympians from the competition.
“As the situation worsens, we are in a unique and impossible situation shortly before the start of the game. Yesterday we said we would continue to listen, and that is what we are doing. In the last 12 hours, a huge number of players have contacted us and been very direct. They have told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is likely to have serious consequences for the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022. Several National Olympic Committees – on behalf of their national governments, teams and athletes – are threatening do not compete, “says EndC Parson, president of the IPC.
According to the IPC, the situation in the Paralympic Athletes’ Village is so disruptive that the safety of the athletes is at stake.
“First and foremost, our constitutional mission to ensure and monitor the success of the Paralympic Games is to ensure that the spirit of fair play prevails in the Paralympic Movement, that violence is prohibited, that athletes are healthy and that ethical principles are respected. With this in mind, and in order to preserve the integrity of these games and the safety of all participants, we have decided to deny athletes applying to the Russia – Belarus Paralympic Committees, “Parson said.
This is another blow to Russia and Belarus, which have always used sport as part of their policy. As a result, Russia and Belarus, which have waged war in Ukraine, are increasingly being pushed out of international sports and daily life.
