IPC president says Russian soldiers can compete in Paralympics: It doesn't matter to us what they have done in the past
Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said the organisation is willing to allow Russian soldiers who became disabled in the war against Ukraine to compete at the Paralympic Games.
Source: BBC
Quote: "When the general assembly took the decision to lift the suspensions of Russia and Belarus, the decision was to treat them like any other National Paralympic Committee. There are many countries that recruit athletes from the armed forces, so if Russia does that, they won't be the only one."
Details: Parsons said what soldiers did in the past does not matter at the Paralympics.
Quote: "We have to remember where we come from. Our movement started after World War Two, specifically with injured military personnel. So what the Paralympic movement offers is possibility after war."
We are against any war, any conflict, but what we offer is an opportunity for those who are injured in war to be reintegrated into society through sport.
It doesn't matter to us what they have done in the past in the combat field. Of course crimes of war are something different, but what we offer with the movement is a second chance."
More details: Asked about Ukraine's dissatisfaction with the decision, Parsons referenced the movement's democratic processes.
Quote: "The general assembly lifted the suspension in September so we need to respect the democracy of our movement. The majority voted that way, so we need to implement their decision. But I fully understand the disappointment, I understand the different opinions, and especially [those] coming from Ukraine."
More details: Asked what he would say to Ukrainian athletes Parsons said: "My message to them is that the best way to show the strength of Ukraine is on the field of play, by winning medals and by making sure their national anthem is played as many times as possible on Italian soil."
Background:
- Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes have been granted permission to compete under their national flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, taking place from 6 to 15 March in Italy. Ukraine and other participating countries boycotted the opening ceremony in response.
- Valerii Sushkevych, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, said the International Paralympic Committee had banned Ukrainian athletes from wearing a kit featuring a map of Ukraine at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych criticised the move.
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