Andrew Parsons Ukraine Russia city Beijing Belarus president sports Extreme and Andrew Parsons Ukraine Russia city Beijing Belarus

Paralympics ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from 2022 Winter Games in Beijing

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Paralympics this year, which begins in Beijing on Friday.The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board have taken the decision following a specially convened meeting in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last month.It comes amid a collective effort to expunge Russia-associated teams and athletes from sporting competitions around the world as opposition to Putin's aggression in Ukraine intensifies."At the IPC we are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix.

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," said IPC President Andrew Parsons."When our members elected the Board in December 2021 it was to maintain and uphold the principles, values, and rules of the Paralympic Movement.

As Board members that is a responsibility and duty we take extremely seriously. "In taking our decision yesterday we were looking at the long-term health and survival of the Paralympic Movement.

We are fiercely proud of the principles and values that have made the Movement what it is today. "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."Mr Parsons said that in the last day or so, an "overwhelming number of members" contested Russia's involvement in the Games and threatened not to compete if they were allowed to remain."With this in mind, and 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 and NPC Belarus," he said."To the Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by.

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