The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted to partially suspend the Russian and Belarusian National Paralympic Committees for two years due to "breaches of constitutional membership obligations." That decision means both nations can take part in Paris "in an individual and neutral capacity" without national flags, colours or emblems - a move strongly condemned by Ukraine.
The vote on an outright ban on Russian athletes narrowly failed, with 74 opposed, 65 in favour and 13 abstentions. The decision was made at the IPC, in its General Assembly in Manama, Bahrain.
Russia and its ally Belarus have been suspended from Paralympic competition since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
As a result, athletes from both nations were barred from taking part in the Winter Paralympics in Beijing in March 2022. Ukraine later Friday criticised the IPC's decision, arguing this would "prolong the war".