IPC stands agency on Russian athletes competing amid boycott warnings

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Russian and Belarusian athletes will likely be allowed to compete on the Winter Paralympics below their flags and with their nationwide anthems following a call by the Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC) Basic Meeting, its President Andrew Parsons stated on Monday.

The IPC’s allocation of 10 mixed slots to Russian and Belarusian athletes triggered a political storm forward of the Video games, given persevering with tensions over Russia’s four-year invasion of Ukraine.

"This determination can't be overturned by the board or on my own," Parsons informed a press convention on the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.

After the announcement, Ukraine stated its crew would boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics opening ceremony on March 6 in Verona. The Czech Paralympic Committee made an analogous announcement in solidarity with Ukraine. Some Polish officers may also keep away.

WATCH | Is the door opening for extra Russians to compete?: Are the Olympics softening its stance on Russia?

13 Russian athletes are competing with impartial standing on the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics whereas a ban on the nation and its ally Belarus continues, however there are indicators the door might be opening for extra Russian athletes to return to competitors. Parsons urged Ukrainian athletes to attend the ceremony.

“Now we have a message to offer that's one among inclusion and variety. We encourage them to take part, but when they don’t wish to, we respect that,” he stated.

Requested in regards to the chance that different nations may skip the opening ceremony, Parsons stated the IPC had acquired no official communication on additional withdrawals.

"What I’m afraid of is that generally these conditions will be politicized," he stated.

Russia, which has been excluded from a lot of worldwide sport as a result of invasion of Ukraine, says it's unsuitable to combine politics and sport and that focusing on disabled athletes is offensive.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Athletes arrive at a Moscow airport surrounded by fellow Russians." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/dc52e83d-9f4b-4673-8a52-27808dd02c5e,1771873006772/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C832%2C5785%2C3200%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/dc52e83d-9f4b-4673-8a52-27808dd02c5e,1771873006772/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C832%2C5785%2C3200%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/dc52e83d-9f4b-4673-8a52-27808dd02c5e,1771873006772/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C832%2C5785%2C3200%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/dc52e83d-9f4b-4673-8a52-27808dd02c5e,1771873006772/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C832%2C5785%2C3200%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.8078125" data-cy="image-img"/> Russian athletes arrive at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow after being banned from taking part within the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters) Russia has been allotted two spots in Para Alpine snowboarding, two in cross-country snowboarding and two in snowboarding. Belarus acquired 4 locations, all in cross-country snowboarding.

The Italian authorities disagreed with the IPC determination and urged the ruling physique to reverse it.

Parsons stated there was ongoing dialogue with the host nation and that the hope was to attenuate the influence of differing positions whereas making certain athletes had been supplied the absolute best setting during which to compete.