Keep Russia Out Of Paralympics Until It Ends Its War on Ukraine

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On September 27, the IPC decided to lift in full its suspension of Russia in the Paralympics over that nation's aggression in Ukraine. Is this how the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) views the horrific destruction of war? 

Its decision is totally unacceptable. 

Russia's National Paralympic Committee (NPC) will now be able to compete as a country at the next Winter Paralympics, scheduled for March 2026 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. It will also be allowed to use its national flag and national anthem. 

The situation will be different for the Winter Olympics, which will be held in the same two locations in February 2026. Russian athletes will be allowed to participate in the Winter Olympics only as neutral athletes qualifying on an individual basis. 

Ukraine Threatens Boycott of Games

In a vote by the IPC General Assembly, proposals for the full and partial suspension of Russia's National Paralympic Committee were both rejected.

IPC president Andrew Parsons reacted, saying: "Decisions made by the General Assembly are made by more than 200 members. They [made] the decision. My job is to implement that decision."

As a result, Ukraine is prepared to boycott the Games. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian foreign ministry called the decision "shameful." He warned that it "effectively encourages Russian aggression, terror, and killing." Then he emphasized, "Russian athletes and the [Russian] flag must be banned from international competitions until the war is over."

Ukraine's Youth and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi charged that Russia had liberally distributed bribes to win the vote. He lamented, "For how much was the conscience and the spirit of the Paralympics sold?"

Bidnyi also said that Kyiv will decide later whether to participate in the upcoming Winter Paralympics.

Russia Continues to Wage War on Ukraine

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. That was only two days after the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics. To this day, Russia's carnage in its neighboring country continues. 

After Russia started the war, the IPC announced that Russian athletes would still be allowed to compete, but as neutral individuals, in the Beijing Paralympics in March 2022. However, the IPC's announcement met with fierce criticism from Ukraine and other nations. It therefore dropped that plan. 

In November 2022, the IPC General Assembly decided to suspend the Russian NPC indefinitely. Later, the sanctions were partially relaxed. That measure also allowed Russian para-athletes to participate in the 2024 Paris Summer Games as neutral athletes with individual status. Nonetheless, the Russian national flag and national anthem were still banned. 

Russia has not relented in its war on Ukraine. Therefore, the focus going forward will be on the response of the governing bodies of each sport that have suspended the Russian NPC. 

Before that happens, the IPC should clarify its own position and not leave the impression that the general assembly vote was the sole reason for its shocking decision.

War Injury Roots of the Paralympics

The Paralympics have their roots in the rehabilitation of individuals wounded in wars. That being so, the IPC as an organization is expected to show a strong aversion to aggression. 

Currently, the Ukraine conflict has not changed in a way that would warrant a complete lifting of the suspension. The fighting continues, and the number of wounded, including among the civilian population, continues to rise.

There is also the earlier example of Beijing as precedent. NPCs worldwide, including Japan, should work to have the IPC's egregious decision reversed. 

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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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