Paralympic Games

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 Paralympic Games 

~Week 11~

~Potential Ban~

    The world of sports unites the world in a peaceful competition, enabling athletes to compete in a secure environment. During the suspension, Russia and Belarus cannot enter athletes into the World para SPorts events. The IPC has yet to state whether the athletes from Russia and Belarus can compete as neutral competitors. This means they could compete separately from their national committees. The IPC said that Russia and Belarus' eligibility for the 2024 Paris Paralympics decision will likely be made in the fourth quarter of 2023. These athletes were barred from the last March's Paralympic Winter Games the day before the Opening Ceremony. This decision made earlier would have allowed these athletes to compete as neutrals without their national flag, anthems, and symbols. This was made to endure the safety of athletes, and athletes from other countries were threatening to not compete if Russian and Belarus athletes remained in the games. This ban is a result of Russia invading Ukraine the week before the games began. Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “The IPC and wider Paralympic Movement is greatly concerned by the gross violation of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments in the days prior to the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games." (IPC, 2014). The National Paralympic Committee apologized to the Para Athletes from impacted countries, but the games will go ahead. The Values of IPC are clearly showcased and limit the amount of focus on political issues, the games strive for unity and bringing people together.


Russia Paralympic Flag

~Removing Russia and Belarus~

    I believe they should remove Russia and Belarus from competing in future IOC/IPC events. Protecting the integrity of sports and the safety of participants the International Sports Federations and event organizers were recommended not to allow participation from Russia and Belarus. The IOC ED based the circumstances of the situation considering the extreme violation of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government. The timing of how long these countries should be banned is up in. the air for me. I do believe upon the resolution of the war and change the countries should be invited back in. This should only happen if these countries are willing to abide by the IPC values. If these countries are not willing to be unified and show that I do not believe they should be invited back. 

Biathletes from Russia and Ukraine training side by side on Thursday.

~Events being held in Russia and Belarus~

    I do not believe that disabled sports should be held in either of these countries. First off I don't think anyone would feel safe traveling to these countries after recent events. Given the unethical actions of the war, the risk to athletes and spectators would be greater than in another country. These countries are not showing the values and messages that these games portray. It is difficult to think when it would be safe to enter these countries or when travelers would feel safe entering. The participation of these athletes from Russia and Belarus should depend on themselves, not their country. If they are backing up what their country is doing I do not think they should be able to compete. But reading up on it I saw that not a lot of people inside these countries back their government and actually believe what the government is doing is wrong. So the athletes that do think this way should be able to compete but as a neutral competitors up until this matter is over. 


I.O.C. Recommends Barring Athletes From Russia and Belarus - The New York Times
~Other Findings~

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65155072

    This article shows the extremeness of this war and how dangerous it is. One day ago Russia hit Kostyantynivika with S-300 Surface to air missiles and Urgan rockets, and at least eight people were injured. 

~Sources~ 

OlympicTalk. (2022, November 17). IPC bans Russia, Belarus paralympic committees. OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved April 3, 2023, from https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/11/17/russia-paralympic-committee-banned-ipc/

IPC makes decisions regarding RPC and NPC Belarus. International Paralympic Committee. (2022, March 2). Retrieved April 3, 2023, from https://www.paralympic.org/press-release/ipc-makes-decisions-regarding-rpc-and-npc-belarus

Waldstein, D., & Chien, A. C. (2022, March 3). In reversal, Paralympics Bars athletes from Russia and Belarus. The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/sports/olympics/paralympics-russia.html

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