Ukraine has reacted with fury after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted on Saturday to lift the suspension on Russia and Belarus, allowing athletes from both countries to compete under their own flags.
Why It Matters
Russia and its ally Belarus were suspended from the IPC following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which partially took place from bases in Belarus. Similar moves were made by other sporting bodies including the International Olympic Committee and FIFA which governs global soccer.
Saturday’s decision, following a vote by IPC members, will concern Ukraine that international outrage over the Russian invasion has somewhat dissipated and that Russia and Belarus could be invited back to other sporting bodies.
What To Know
On Saturday IPC members voted not to maintain its sanctions on Russia and Belarus, restoring both nations to full membership.
This will allow Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, though they would also have to overcome bans from the governing bodies of the respective sports to be played.
In a statement published on its official Instagram account the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said: “Ukraine considers the decision of the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in Seoul [to be] shameful, as it chose not to extend the partial suspension of the national Paralympic committees of Belarus and the Russian Federation.”
They continued: “We call on the entire sporting world—states, sports institutions, all athletes and coaches who have not lost their moral compass—to condemn this shameful decision and demand its reversal. We appeal to Italy to ensure that Russian flags—under which Ukrainians are being killed today—do not appear during competitions.”
At the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympics Games in Paris some Russian and Belorussian athletes were allowed to compete but only as “neutrals,” without their flags being flown or national anthems played in the event of victory.
On Friday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the “weak reaction” to a series of alleged violations of NATO airspace by Russian aircraft.
What People Are Saying
According to the BBC, Ukraine’s sports minister Matviy Bidnyi said: “We call on our European partners, who will host the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games, not to allow the flag of the aggressor state to be raised over the free and democratic space while the war of aggression continues.”
In a statement, a British government spokesperson said: “Our unequivocal position remains that there should be no Russian or Belorussian state representation in international sport while the war against Ukraine continues given the breaches of the Olympic Charter.
“We will assess the implications of today’s vote, and urge the IPC to consider the message it sends.”
What Happens Next
Russia’s participation in the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games is likely to prove divisive and could spark protests outside some venues.