Russia lashes out at 'illegal' Beijing Paralympics ban

RT
Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:21 UTC

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Andrew Parsons

In a stunning reversal, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from the Winter Paralympic Games for their countries' roles in the war in Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Thursday in Beijing.

The about-face comes less than 24 hours after the IPC on Wednesday announced it would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete when the Games open on Friday, but only as neutral athletes with colors, flags and other national symbols removed.

The IPC received immediate criticism for its initial decision. It was termed a betrayal that sent the wrong message to Russia's leadership. The IPC also said it was evident that many athletes would refuse to compete against Russians or Belarusians, creating chaos for the Paralympics and damaging the reputation.

IPC President Andrew Parsons, in announcing the initial measures Wednesday in a Beijing news conference, sympathized openly with the Ukrainian people but said his actions were constrained by his organization's rules and the fear of legal action. Parsons said almost the opposite in announcing his reversal, noting his constituents had pushed back.

"In the last 12 hours, an overwhelming number of members have been in touch with us. They have told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences. What is clear is that the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games."

The IPC now joins sports like soccer, track, basketball, hockey, and others that have imposed blanket bans on Russians and Belarussians.

The International Olympic Committee on Monday pushed sports bodies to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events, but it left the final decision to individual governing bodies.

The IOC has been slow to crack down on Russia, allowing its athletes to compete in the last four Olympics following a state-sponsored doping scandal and coverup in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Russia was expected to have 71 athletes competing in Beijing. It was not immediately clear how many Belarussian athletes were involved. Ukraine has said it would have 20.

The Winter Paralympics open on Friday and close on March 13.

Parsons also addressed the Russian and Belarusian athletes.

"To Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic truce. You are victims of your governments' actions."

Comment: The pile on has begun as other sports organizations join the exodus, letting politics and perceptions guide their decisions:

The ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics is "illegal" and violates the principle of separating sport from politics, Russian officials have said.

IPC President Andrew Parsons:

"At the IPC we are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix. However, by no fault of its own the war [in Ukraine] has now come to these Games and behind the scenes many governments are having an influence on our cherished event."

In a strongly-worded statement, the RPC said the organization and Russian athletes were being seen as culprits, when in reality they have done

"nothing that could in any way be interpreted as participating in the current political complications. On the contrary, in full accordance with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the RPC removed from its governing bodies any persons who had any relation to political structures.

"In this regard, the RPC considers the decision of the IPC illegal and reserves the right to defend the rights and interests of Russian Paralympic athletes in sports and other judicial instances.

"Of course, the RPC will continue to work on the development of domestic physical culture and sports among people with disabilities and the creation of all necessary conditions for this."

Reacting to the Paralympic ban, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it

"horrible. This is a shame for the International Paralympic Committee. I can't say otherwise. Yesterday, one decision was made, today this decision was changed, so, of course, we strongly condemn the International Paralympic Committee."

Russian State Duma Deputy Boris Paykin, who is a member of the Committee on Physical Culture and Sport, said the country could organize its own event for Paralympic athletes.

"These days we are no longer surprised that politics has taken over sport and its most important principles. But the decision of the International Paralympic Committee, which only yesterday announced that Russians and Belarusians will be able to take part in the Beijing Games, but today in a cowardly way and under obvious pressure, is changing its position - this is the height of cynicism and double standards.

"Our Paralympic athletes are people of special courage, they have enough inner strength not only to overcome illnesses, but also to realize their potential in the sports arena... I think that for Belarusian and Russian athletes we should organize a sports festival here, in Russia."

https://www.rt.com/sport/551125-russia-response-paralympic-ban/

But wait...there's more:

Video game giant EA Sports has removed Russian teams from its popular FIFA video game series, the company has confirmed.

Football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA are among the organizations to follow the IOC's calls, and Russia's sporting exclusion has now been extended to video games.

"EA Sports has initiated processes to remove the Russian national team and all Russian clubs from EA Sports FIFA products including: FIFA 22, FIFA Mobile and FIFA Online. We're also actively evaluating related changes to other areas of our games. We will keep our communities up to date on any actions taken, and thank players for their patience as we work through these updates."

Formula 1 falls in line:

Days after it was revealed that this season's Sochi Grand Prix was to be shelved following Russia's conflict in Ukraine, Formula 1 chiefs have announced that they have terminated their contract in Russia after determining that racing in the country is no longer viable.

The Russian Grand Prix was due to move to St. Petersburg in 2023, with this no longer happening despite it reportedly being one of the most financially lucrative races on the F1 annual calendar.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was key in establishing the race in 2014 in Sochi after the Winter Olympic Games were held in the region, but the decision means that F1 will now leave Russia for an indeterminate period.

The decision comes shortly after the FIA announced that it would continue to allow Russian drivers to compete in global motorsports, and represents a rare difference of opinion between Formula 1 and its governing body. Russian drivers such as Haas' Nikita Mazepin will be forced to race under a neutral flag.

It also comes days after the UK's national motorsport authority announced a ban on all Russian drivers.

However, this week the IOC - to which the FIA has official links - introduced a wave of new measures to punish Russian and Belarusian athletes, saying on Tuesday that

"event organizers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions... in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all participants."

Olympic champion cites 'gross hypocrisy' of sports federations:

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Olympic Champion Alina Kabaeva

The sweeping sanctions being placed on Russian athletes amounts to the "most disgraceful page in the history of world sports," former rhythmic gymnastics Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva has said.

Governing sports federations from football to canoeing have since heeded that call by either suspending athletes from the two countries altogether or insisting that they compete as neutrals.

Former Olympic rhythmic gymnastics all-around gold medalist Kabaeva described the situation as shameful, as she hit out at the measures and questioned why Russians were being punished for a military conflict when athletes from other nations had escaped anything similar in past years. The nine-time world champion told TASS;

"I believe there has never been a more disgraceful page in the history of world sports. The leadership of many international sports organizations has long been engaged in completely unsportsmanlike affairs under various pretexts. Now it is no longer hidden."