Russia and Belarus will participate as neutrals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games despite Ukraine invasion

Russian and Belarusian paralympic athletes will be allowed to compete at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, but as neutrals. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are the latest high-profile sports governing body to sanction the two nations after Russia invaded Ukraine last week.

Ad/> The IPC said in a statement on Wednesday morning: «The IPC board expressed its concerns and sympathies for Ukrainian athletes and citizens alike, and shared its delight that the full delegation of the Ukrainian paralympic team arrived safely in Beijing earlier today. Paralympics'We are sick of being second best' — Weir demands authorities do more for para-sport06/09/2021 AT 22:57 »The board was also united in its condemnation of the governments of Russia and Belarus for breaching the UN resolution in the week leading up to the opening of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

The board was also in agreement that the breach of the truce could not go unpunished. «In deciding what action to take, the board was guided by the IPC’s core principles, which include a commitment to political neutrality and impartiality, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of sport.» The IPC have set out the following conditions: All their athletes/support personnel will participate in an individual capacity as neutral athletes/support personnel They will compete under the Paralympic flag and the Paralympic anthem They will not be included in the medals table The RPC delegation must cover the RPC symbol on their uniforms in all official ceremonies and sporting competitions The Belarus delegation must cover the Belarus flags on their uniforms in all official ceremonies and sporting competitions /> IPC President Andrew Parsons said: