The Paralympic International Committee raises partial suspensions from Russia, Belarus

The International Paralympic Committee has raised the partial suspensions of Russia and Bélarus.

The general assembly of the IPC in Seoul, in South Korea, first voted against a complete suspension for Russia from 111 to 55, with 11 abstentions, then voted against a partial suspension of 91-77 (with eight abstentions).

He also voted against a complete suspension for Belarus from 119 to 48, with nine abstentions, and against a partial suspension of 103-63 (10 abstentions).

Decisions are increasing the possibility of a confrontation with the director of each sport in front of the Paralympic Jean-Cortina in Italy from March 6 to 15 of next year.

The IPC declared “this decision means that the NPC Bélarus and Russia of the NPC now regain their rights and privileges of belonging to the IPC, in accordance with the constitution of the IPC. The IPC will work with the two members involved to set up practical arrangements in place as soon as possible.”

Russia and the ally of the Bélarus were prohibited from international sporting events after the invasion of Russia on the scale of Ukraine in 2022.

In a statement published on its website, the press service of the Russian Paralympic Committee said that the organization had welcomed what it called the IPC’s “fair decision” to “reintegrate” the Russian Paralympic Committee.

“This is an important contribution to the development of the international paralympic movement and an example that athletes’ rights must be protected without discrimination based on nationality and political affiliation,” the statement said.

There was no immediate reaction of the Ukrainian paralympic or Olympic committees, but the State diffuser Susil said that “in Ukraine, it is legally prohibited to delegate national teams to competitions where the countries of aggressor are represented without observing the principles of neutrality, under the symbols of the State.”

The Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended since 2023 by the International Olympic Committee for breaking the Olympic Charter using administrative land to integrate regional sports organizations in the east of occupied Ukraine.

The Russians will be allowed to compete in the Milan-Cortina winter games next year in northern Italy from February 6 to 22. The IOC last week confirmed that it would follow the system it used at Paris Games last year, allowing Russians to compete as individual neutral athletes – using the French acronym Ain.