Iran's Aboulfazl Khatibi won't compete at Milan Paralympics - ESPN

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Iranian athlete Aboulfazl Khatibi will not compete at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games because he can't safely travel to Italy amid the intensifying war in the Middle East, the International Paralympic Committee said Friday.

The announcement came just hours ahead of the opening ceremony in Verona.

Khatibi is a cross-country skier and was the only athlete from Iran set to participate in the Games, which are beginning less than a week since the United States and Israel launched a military attack against Iran.