Winter Paralympics 2022: Russian and Belarusian athletes finally excluded from the Beijing Olympics

Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, in Beijing on March 3, 2022. REUTERS - PETER CZIBORRA

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Russian and Belarusian athletes will ultimately be excluded from the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced Thursday, March 3, on the eve of the opening of the competition. 

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Seized following

the Russian invasion in Ukraine

in which Belarus is collaborating, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Wednesday that these athletes could participate in the Games under a neutral banner.

A decision immediately contested in several countries.

A turnaround this Thursday March 3 on the eve of the opening ceremony of these Games which are to take place in the Chinese capital until March 13.

In a press release, the IPC justified itself by the fact that “

teams and athletes are now threatening not to participate, compromising the chances of success of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games

”.

"

The situation in the athletes' village is deteriorating and guaranteeing their safety has become impossible

," the Committee added.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) accused Russia of breaking the Olympic truce.

He urged the federations on Monday to ban Russians but also Belarusians from all competitions.

The International Football Federation (Fifa) has thus

excluded Russia from the 2022 World Cup

in Qatar.

And many federations (athletics, skating, rugby, boxing, swimming) have announced exclusion measures targeting Russian athletes, and sometimes Belarusians.

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