(Bonn) Russian and Belarusian athletes were excluded from the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paris Summer Paralympic Games on Wednesday, even though they obtained certification to compete under a neutral banner.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced its decision regarding athletes from the two countries, which is much harsher than that taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in view of the Paris Games, which will take place a month earlier. The IOC decided last December to keep the door open to Russian and Belarusian athletes, despite the invasion of Ukraine.
“Even if athletes participate in individual events under a neutral banner, they will not be able to parade during the opening ceremony on August 28 nor count on a flag bearer during the closing ceremony on September 8,” declared the IPC .
At the Paris Olympic Games, Russian and Belarusian athletes who have obtained certification to compete under a neutral banner – first from the organizations which oversee individual disciplines, then from the IOC – will be able to participate in the opening ceremony on July 26. This ceremony will be a sort of parade of boats on the Seine, towards the Eiffel Tower.
The IPC and the IOC have essentially the same eligibility criteria for athletes who wish to obtain certification to compete under a neutral banner — they must not have publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine and must not have ties to the Russian and Belarusian army or security services.
The IPC had already adopted a stricter stance than the IOC towards Russia.
The Russian delegation was excluded from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games due to the institutionalized doping scandal and subsequent cover-up attempts. The IOC allowed nearly 300 Russian athletes to participate in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.