<<Print>>

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to compete at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

The International Paralympic Committee was heavily criticized after initially allowing the athletes to compete as neutrals.
 
A statement on Thursday said the "situation in the athlete villages" had become "untenable".

IPC president Andrew Parsons described the athletes affected as "victims of your governments' actions".
 
The Winter Paralympics begins on Saturday, with the opening ceremony taking place on Friday.

"We are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix," Parsons said.

"However, by no fault of its own the war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes, many governments are having an influence on our cherished event.

"Ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us and the situation in the athlete villages is escalating and has now become untenable."

There were set to be 71 competitors from Russia and 12 from Belarus - plus guides for both nations - competing in Beijing.

Parsons said an "overwhelming number of members" had spoken to the IPC and said they would not compete in the Games should Russia and Belarus be allowed to.

He said the decision to prevent the athletes competing would "preserve the integrity" of the Games and "the safety of all participants".

On Wednesday, a number of governing bodies and political figures criticized the IPC for not immediately banning Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Nadine Dorries, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, called on the IPC to "urgently reconsider" its decision, while the US Paralympic Committee and the British Paralympic Association also expressed their disappointment.

A joint statement from the athletes of Ukraine and the Global Athlete group, an international athlete-led body that aims to inspire change in world sport, said the IPC had issued "another blow" to every Ukrainian athlete and citizen with its decision.

Ukrainian Olympic skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, speaking before the IPC reversed its decision, described the situation as "disgusting".

"They put Russia above the interest of other countries," Heraskevych, who displayed an anti-war sign during the Beijing Games in February, said.

"Anything less than a full ban is unacceptable. It's sad and heartbreaking."