Paralympian Marcel Hug says Winter Games decision is right but feels for athletes

Paralympic star Marcel Hug backed the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Winter Games in Beijing but feels for the sporting stars caught up in the situation.

The International Paralympic Committee made a dramatic U-turn on Thursday to counter threats of a widespread boycott having announced less than 24 hours earlier that athletes from the two countries would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag.

Swiss racer Hug, a five-time Paralympian who won four gold medals in Tokyo last summer, told the PA news agency: “It’s a very, very difficult situation. I’m in the happy position that I don’t have to decide.

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“On the one hand I understand everyone who says that athletes should be banned, on the other side I also understood the situation from the IPC that it’s very difficult, and I also see the situation for the athletes, Russian athletes for example, who are against the war but they would like to compete in these Paralympics.

“You can make any decision, it’s very hard for everyone. But now I think it’s a good decision because it follow the decisions of other associations and the IOC (International Olympic Committee).”

Hug was speaking after being nominated for the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.

He is bidding to win the award for a second time having lifted it in 2018 and faces competition from British cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, tennis stars Diede De Groot and Shingo Kunieda, triathlete Susana Rodrigues and Jetze Plat, who became Paralympic champion in both cycling and triathlon in Tokyo.

“It means really a lot to me,” said Hug. “I was really happy when I got this message. The Laureus award is a very important award, I have followed the awards