Winter Paralympics 2022: Russia and Belarus athletes banned from competing
The International Paralympic Committee reversed its original decision
Last updated 29th May 2022
Russian and Belarusian athletes will be banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reversed its original decision.
The IPC's announcement on Wednesday (2nd March) that athletes from those countries would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag was met by criticism and the threat of a boycott.
In a statement on Thursday morning, IPC president Andrew Parsons said that the comittee were looking for the "long-term health and survival" of the Paralympic Movement.
"However, 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. Yesterday we said we would continue to listen, and that is what we are doing," he added.
The situation at the Paralympic village has "become untenable"
Eighty three athletes would now be unable to compete, but the decision was taken because of the threat of widespread withdrawals from other countries as well as concerns about safety.
The situation in the athletes village had "become untenable", Mr Parsons said.
He added: "In the last 12 hours, an overwhelming number of members have been in touch with us and been very open, for which I am grateful. They have told us that, if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
"Multiple NPCs (National Paralympic Committees), some of which have been contacted by their governments, teams and athletes, are threatening not to compete.
"Ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us and the situation in the athlete villages is escalating and has now become untenable."
Though Mr Parsons said the comittee doesn't have reports of any specific incidents of "aggression or anything like it".
"To the Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry," says ICP chair
Mr Parsons apologised to athletes from Russia and Belarus, saying: "In order to preserve the integrity of these Games and the safety of all participants, we have decided to refuse the athlete entries from RPC (Russian Paralympic Committee) and NPC Belarus.
"To the 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. You are victims of your governments' actions.
"I hope and pray that we can get back to a situation when the talk and focus is fully on the power of sport to transform the lives of persons with disabilities, and the best of humanity."
Mr Parsons said the IPC was braced for legal action from Russia and Belarus and that officials were working with the two delegations to get their athletes back home as soon as possible.
He also admitted his organisation had been taken aback by the strength of the reaction, saying.
The decision was initially welcomed by the British Paralympic Association (BPA), with the organisation saying in a statement.
The BPA had reiterated its view on Wednesday that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete was not "compatible with the objectives of the Paralympic movement".
The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board recommended international sports federations and event organisers should exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, teams and officials "wherever possible".
Where this was not possible, the IOC board suggested such athletes compete as neutrals.