Russian and Belarusian athletes allowed to compete at Winter Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete as neutrals at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Beijing, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed.

The athletes will compete under the Paralympic flag and will not be included in the medal table.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee has recommended that sports federations should exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, teams and officials from competitions ‘wherever possible’.

FIFA and UEFA has already announced this week that Russian teams are now excluded from their competitions, including the World Cup and the Europa League.

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But following an emergency meeting, the IPC has ruled that the 72 Russian athletes will not be banned from competing in Beijing.

‘They will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table,’ the IPC said in a statement.

The IPC’s decision is likely to be met with huge criticism following calls from several nations for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned from competing at the Winter Paralympics.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement: ‘As the world watches in horror while Russia brazenly attacks the innocent people and athletes of Ukraine, this is the only acceptable action to be taken until peace is restored.’

The Winter Paralympics begins on Friday and ends on March 13.

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