Russian, Belarusian athletes now banned from Paralympics

In a sudden reversal from a decision made 20 hours previous, the International Paralympic Committee has banned all Russian and Belarusian Para sport athletes from competing at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics Games.

Follow substantial criticism and backlash, the IPC advised that the change of decision is due to numerous nations protesting and athletes threatening not to compete if Russian and Belarusian athletes would be permitted in Beijing. Additionally, the IPC president Andrew Parsons stated that ensuring the safety of the athletes from the two countries at the Olympic village was problematic and could become volatile.

“In the last 12 hours, an overwhelming number of members have been in touch with us,” Parsons said in a statement. “They have told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences.

“What is clear is that the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games.

“There was a level of animosity that, of course, was absolutely counter-productive to what, first of all, we want to have here, which is a fair competition between athletes from different nations. The athletes’ reactions showed us that if we did not take action, the situation could get worse,” he said.

The Latvian wheelchair curling team was just one of numerous groups of athletes informing that they would not compete against Russian Paralympic Athletes, even under neutral status. Other hockey and curling teams also threatened to withdraw.

The Russian neutral athletes would have participated at the Beijing 2022 Paraympics under the Paralympic flag, with no symbols on uniforms, no anthem at ceremonies and excluded from the medal count. Still, the world’s Para athletes stood in solidarity, taking action against the IPC’s ruling.

“We are also firm believers that sport and politics should not mix, however, it is clear that maybe now, due to the current situation, that is no longer possible,” Parsons continued. “The war has now come to these Games, and behind the scenes, many governments are having an influence on our cherished event.

“A rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible situation so close to the start of the Games.”

Russia was expected to have 71 athletes competing in Beijing, while it was unknown how many Belarusian athletes were involved. Ukraine noted that it would have 20 participants at the Games.

Natalia Garach, head of press services for the National Committee for Sports for the Disabled of Ukraine, addressed the participation of the Ukrainian Paralympians earlier this week.

“The team is going in full force as we planned,” Garach said. “On the eve of the Paralympic Games, the team won 19 licenses. One license was given to us as a ‘white card’ to the youngest athlete Seraphim Dragun. There are nine more guides.”

International Paralympic Committee spokesperson Craig Spence also confirmed Ukraine’s status at the Games, which open on Friday in Beijing, while elaborating on the tenuous situation, escalated by the IPC ‘s initial ruling on Wednesday.

“What we’ve seen in the 14 hours since is a move from letters [from NPCs] of ‘We think you should ban,’ to now, ‘We’re thinking of going home. We’re not playing,’” Spence said. “That’s a huge change. If we don’t act on that, then we’re crazy.

“If we didn’t pivot on today’s decision, we’d probably be talking to you in two days’ time about the fact that there’s not enough athletes here to do the Games.”

Parsons addressed the affected Russian and Belarusian athletes.

“To Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic truce,” said the Brazilian IPC president. “You are victims of your governments’ actions.”

Parsons initially announced the neutral status measures at a Wednesday news conference, while sympathizing openly with the Ukrainian people, but said his actions were constrained by his organization’s rules and the fear of legal action.

The International Olympic Committee pushed sports bodies to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events on Monday, but left the final decision up to the individual governing bodies.

The Paralympics open on Friday and proceed through March 13.

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