IPC Bans Russia, Belarus Athletes From Beijing Paralympic Games Competition
Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 06:49PM By Barry Janoff
March 3, 2022: Stating that “the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games,” the International Paralympic Committee governing board, following a specially convened meeting, has decided to “refuse the athlete entries from the RPC (Russian Paralympic committee) and (National Paralympic Committee) Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
“This means that Para athletes from these respective countries will no longer be allowed to participate in the Games,” with Open Ceremonies in Beijing on March 4 and running through March 13. (The Paralympics will air across NBC Sports platforms in the U.S.).
IPC said that as a result of today’s decision, “83 Para athletes are directly impacted.”
“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,” Andrew Parsons, IPC president, said via the organization. “You are victims of your governments’ actions.
“However, if RPC and NPC Belarus remain here in Beijing, then nations will likely withdraw. We will likely not have a viable Games. If this were to happen, the impact would be far-wider reaching.”
The decision overrides an earlier IPC decision that allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete without their national flags, symbols and anthems.
"We are sorry you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce. You are victims of your governments’ actions."
Due to the nation’s previous sanctions for doping, athletes from Russian were already scheduled to compete as members of the Russian Paralympic Committee, without their flag and anthem, similar to the situation in the just-concluded Beijing Winter Games.
“At the IPC we are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix,” said Parsons.
“However, by no fault of its own, the war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes many Governments are having an influence on our cherished event.
“The IPC is a membership-based organization, and we are receptive to the views of our member organizations.”
According to Parsons, ““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, 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.”
Parsons stressed that, “First and foremost, we have a duty as part of the Paralympic mission, enshrined in the constitution, to guarantee and supervise the organization of successful Paralympic Games, to ensure that in sport practiced within the Paralympic Movement the spirit of fair play prevails, violence is banned, the health risk of the athletes is managed and fundamental ethical principles are upheld.
Among the athletes participating is Oksana Masters, who has won a combined four Paralympic gold medals (two Summer, two Winter) and is competing at the Winter Paralympics for the U.S. in cross-country skiing but who was born in the Ukraine before being adopted and moving to America in 1997.
On social media, she posted, “(My) heart belongs to both the U.S. and Ukraine. It’s the stars and stripes that keeps my Ukrainian heart beating. I’ve always been proud of where I come from. And I can’t wait to race for the two countries that make me whole.”
According to IPC’s Parsons, “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.”
Sports Organizations Escalate Moves Vs. Russia
Back to Home Page