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≡ PARALYMPICS QUESTIONED ≡
“We, as Ministers and equivalent senior representatives for sport of our like-minded countries as well as the European Commission, have noted the announcement by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) of 27 September 2025 that IPC member organisations have voted not to maintain the partial suspensions of the National Paralympic Committees of Belarus and Russia.
“We fully respect and recognise the independence and autonomy of sports organisations, and that this was a vote by the IPC membership. We also maintain a strong belief in the unifying spirit of sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. However, we view this development with serious concern, given that the Russian aggression against Ukraine continues and the Russian and Belarusian breaches of the Olympic Charter remain.”
On Wednesday, a statement from the sports ministers of 33 countries raised questions about the International Paralympic Committee’s votes to reinstate Russia and Belarus, although it appears that no Russian or Belarusian athletes will compete at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in view of either a ban from the relevant International Federation, or a lack of time to qualify.
The statement also pointed to a split with the International Olympic Committee:
● “We note that the IOC in contrast announced on 19 September 2025 that they will be maintaining their stance of ensuring no Russian or Belarusian state representation at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. We welcome the IOC’s announcement and their maintenance of their suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee for breaches of the Olympic Charter, including its violation of the territorial integrity of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.”
● “We also note the IPC’s update of 23 October that in practice no Russian or Belarusian athletes are now likely to qualify for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. We call upon the IPC to clarify what the decision of their members will mean for paralympic sports events beyond the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, and for those areas under the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied.”
● “We also call upon individual International Federations to continue to follow the IOC stance to ensure no Russian or Belarusian state representation in their sports.”
The signatories came from ministers of countries in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania, but did not include the U.S.: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission.
The governments signing notably include 2026 Winter Paralympic host Italy, France, host of the 2030 Winter Games and Australia, host of the 2032 Olympic Games.
The International Paralympic Committee’s General Assembly voted down a motion to partially suspend Russia by 91-77 in September, with eight abstentions, allow their return. A motion to partially suspend Belarus failed by 103-63, with 10 abstentions. Motions to completely suspend were defeated by even larger margins.
The immediate impact of the statement is negligible in view of the likely non-participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy, but it shows that the issue has not disappeared from the diplomatic radar, notably in Asia – with Japan and South Korea both signing – and in Europe.
The U.S. did not sign and does not have a “sports minister” per se; sports issues are generally handled by the Department of State.
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