IPC’s Beijing decision will lead to ‘a lot of boycotts’

The decision to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete at the Beijing Winter Paralympics will lead to “a lot of boycotts”, British Paralympian Ali Jawad has predicted.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has been strongly criticised for its decision to let athletes from the two countries take part as neutrals, despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine which has been aided and abetted by Belarus.

The British Paralympic Association said it would “reflect on the implications” of the decision, having previously stated that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete would not be “compatible with the objectives of the Paralympic movement”.

Paralympic weightlifter Jawad told the PA news agency: “If I was an athlete going to the Winter Games I would refuse to compete.

“Me competing in sport is not bigger than human life. Unfortunately the IPC has put athletes in a very difficult spot now. Potentially it’s up to athletes to take it into their own hands and that is unfair on them. Because of the decision the IPC made I think there will be a lot of boycotts.”

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said she was “extremely disappointed” in the IPC and called on it to “urgently reconsider”, adding: “We will consider the full range of options in protest of this decision, in consultation with UK Sport and the British Paralympic Association.”

On Thursday, Dorries and sports minister Nigel Huddleston are to host a virtual summit with international ministerial counterparts aiming to mobilise more support to isolate Russia from the global sporting arena.

Unfortunately the IPC has put athletes in a very difficult spot now. Because of the decision the IPC made I think there will be a lot of boycotts.- Ali Jawad

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