Russia's return to Games was result of democratic vote, says IPC chief

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, March 5 : The participation of Russia and Belarus in the Paralympic Games was the result of a democratic process, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said on Thursday, a day before the opening ceremony.

Russia and Belarus will have a combined total of 10 athletes at the Games in Italy, competing in skiing and snowboarding events only.

Both countries were banned from Paralympic competitions after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but were admitted back to the IPC in September following a vote by the organisation's general assembly.

As they were still banned by winter sports federations, the two nations were awarded the spots at these Paralympics after winning a Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) in December.

The IPC announced the decision to grant the 10 spots last month, during the Milano Cortina Olympics, triggering the ire of several countries.

“I acknowledge this decision has not been well received in some parts of the world," Parsons told a press conference. "I want to stress that the IPC is a democratic global organisation whose decisions on member suspension are determined by its members." 

Several nations have decided to skip the opening ceremony parade on Friday following the readmission of Russia and Belarus, to show solidarity with Ukraine.

“We cannot pick and choose when to be democratic based on the outcome of the decisions from the general assembly," Parsons said. “It was a democratic process carried out in accordance with the procedure set out in the IPC's constitution. 177 of our 211 member organisations were present to vote."

The Games have also been hit by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign