Russian and Belarusian athletes allowed in Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been given the green light to compete as neutrals at the Paralympic Games in Beijing despite the invasion of Ukraine.

The International Paralympic Committee met to make a decision on the issue on Wednesday, with the Games officially opening on Friday.

"The RPC (Russian Paralympic Committee) and NPC Belarus will participate as neutrals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games," an IPC statement read.

"They will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table."

The IPC's Brazilian president Andrew Parsons later added: "Unlike their governments, these athletes are not aggressors.

"They are here to compete in sporting events, like anybody else.

"We believe in the transformative power of sport, that must be our north star.

"We pride ourselves on sticking to our principles when making difficult decisions. Today, we could not abandon the principles that have gotten us this far, no matter what the public pressure."

Parsons said he had "no explanation" for the failure to make compliance with the Olympic Truce a membership requirement in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

A group of Ukrainian athletes released a statement criticising the decision, in conjunction with reform group Global Athlete.

"Yesterday, 19-year-old Ukrainian biathlete Yevhen Malyshev was killed in combat in Ukraine, defending his country against Russia's attack. How many more lives need to be lost before sport implements meaningful sanctions?" the statement said.

"With or without a neutral label, the Russian and Belarusian authorities will use their athletes’ participation in these Games as state propaganda.

"During the Games and upon the athletes’ return home, these authoritarian regimes will use every ounce of their athletes’ success to justify and distract from their brutal war.

"Lives are being lost, families are being torn apart and tears flow for the Ukrainian nation. The IPC and sport cannot stop the violence, but they could have sent a message that Russia and Belarus’ actions warrant the toughest sanctions and complete isolation."

The IPC said it would hold an extraordinary General Assembly this year to vote on whether to make compliance with the Olympic Truce - a pledge to allow athletes to travel safely to and from the Games - a membership requirement, and whether to suspend or terminate the membership of the Russian Paralympic Committee and Belarus Paralympic Committee.

The IPC said it would not hold any events in Russia or Belarus until further notice.

The decision not to completely bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing is likely to draw criticism and raises the possibility of athletes from other countries boycotting the Games or staging protests.

The International Olympic Committee executive board issued a recommendation on Monday to international sports federations and event organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, until further notice and "wherever possible".

The statement from the IOC EB did recognise the difficulties facing the IPC, with the Games starting just over a week after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, aided and abetted by Belarus.

The IOC said on Monday that where a complete ban was not possible, athletes from those countries should compete as neutrals.

It anticipated that the IPC may not even be able to go that far and accepted some event organisers would have to "find their own way".

A group of Ukrainian athletes wrote an open letter to the IOC and IPC on Sunday calling for Russian and Belarusian competitors to be banned.