The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly, led by President Andrew Parsons, has decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes can participate in the Winter Paralympics under their national flags and anthems. This ruling comes amid controversy over the IPC’s allocation of 10 combined slots for Russian and Belarusian athletes, sparking tensions due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Parsons emphasized that the decision is final and cannot be reversed by the board or himself. Following the announcement, Ukraine declared that its team would boycott the opening ceremony in Verona on March 6. The Czech Paralympic Committee also expressed solidarity with Ukraine by announcing a similar boycott, while some Polish officials will not attend.
Despite the boycotts, Parsons encouraged Ukrainian athletes to join the ceremony, emphasizing the values of inclusion and diversity. He noted that the IPC has not received any official communication regarding additional countries withdrawing from the event.
Russia, facing international sporting sanctions due to the Ukraine conflict, condemned the politicization of sports and denounced targeting disabled athletes. The country has been granted spots in Para Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, while Belarus secured all its spots in cross-country skiing.
Russian athletes arrive at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow after being banned from participating in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)
Despite disagreement from the Italian government, Parsons mentioned ongoing discussions with the host nation to mitigate differences and ensure a conducive environment for all athletes during the Paralympics, scheduled from March 6 to March 15.