ATHLETES from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete as neutrals at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing following the invasion of Ukraine.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) says the two countries “will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table”.
The opening ceremony is on Friday, with competition starting on Saturday.
IPC president Andrew Parsons said the measures were the “harshest possible punishment” under its constitution.
“The IPC and wider Paralympic Movement is greatly concerned by the gross violation of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments in the days prior to the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games,” Parsons said.
“The IPC Governing Board is united in its condemnation of these actions and was in agreement that they cannot go unnoticed or unaddressed.
“In deciding what actions the IPC should take, it was fundamental that we worked within the framework of our new constitution to remain politically neutral.
“Such neutrality is firmly anchored in the genuine belief that sport holds the transformative power to overcome our shortcomings, and summon from within us the best of our humanity, especially in the darkest of moments.”
In all, 71 competitors from Russia and 12 from Belarus – plus guides for both nations – will now be classed as neutral athletes at the Games.
UK Secretary of State Nadine Dorries said she was “extremely disappointed” with the IPC’s decision.
“I call on them to urgently reconsider,” she said. “They must join the rest of the world in condemning this barbaric invasion by banning Russian and Belarussian athletes from competing.
“We will consider the full range of options in protest of this decision, in consultation with UK Sport and the British Paralympic Association. I will also be meeting with my international counterparts this week to discuss how we can respond collectively.”
The US Paralympic Committee and the British Paralympic Association have expressed disappointment in the IPC’s decision.
The British Paralympic Association said: “We, like many participating Paralympic nations, already stated that given the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine we cannot see how the participation of Russia or Belarus in the Games is compatible with the objectives of the Paralympic movement.”
BBC Sport
