The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has acknowledged the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision to lift a partial suspension of Russia and Belarus, imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The IPC’s decision, made during its General Assembly in Seoul, allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics. This move comes after the IOC authorized Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics under a neutral flag, provided they meet specific neutrality conditions.
The IOC’s acknowledgment of the IPC’s decision emphasizes that the IPC, along with the International Federations responsible for respective Para sports, has the authority over the Paralympic Games. Ukraine has reacted strongly against the decision, with Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi expressing outrage, stating that those who voted for the decision have betrayed “their conscience and the Para values”.
The decision opens the way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Winter Paralympics, scheduled from March 6 to 15, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The development has sparked controversy, highlighting the complex relationship between sports and geopolitics.
