According to IPC President Andrew Parsons, the executive board made the decision during a special meeting in view of the increase of tensions registered in the villages where the participants to the global sports event are staying and also the threats by several countries not to compete.

Parsons indicated that, although the IPC is guided by the principle of not mixing politics with sports, they had to proceed with the measure to ensure the athletes’ safety as the situation in the villages became untenable.

He regretted that as a result, the participation of 83 Russian and Belarusian athletes would be affected, but emphasized that if they remain in Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, then the athletes from other countries would withdraw and the holding of the event would be endangered.

This decision is a reversal to one that the International Paralympic Committee announced on Wednesday about the participation of Belarus and the ROC as neutral athletes in the sports event in China.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games will be held from March 4 to 13 and the organizers are arranging the final details of its opening ceremony to ensure the success of the event as the Winter Olympics was.

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