The President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, stated that the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2026 Paralympic Games under their national flags cannot be changed.
Source: Gazeta.UA
According to him, this issue was repeatedly considered by the General Assembly in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and each time the adopted decision remained in force. Parsons emphasized that neither he personally nor the governing bodies of the committee have the authority to revoke it.
The head of the IPC also noted that the organization has no legal grounds to prohibit Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the opening ceremony if they express such a desire. At the same time, he called on Ukraine and other countries that have announced a boycott of the ceremony to reconsider their position.
Parsons stressed that the opening ceremony should not be politicized, but the IPC respects the decisions of national committees and will not impose any sanctions in the event of their refusal to participate.
He also added that despite criticism from some Italian officials, the decision to allow participation was made in advance and was based on the desire to protect the rights of athletes and ensure their full participation in the competitions.