3 MARCH, 2022 - SHANK NEWS, BY MATT HOOPER: THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE HAVE CHANGED THEIR DECISION ON RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN ATHLETES COMPETING IN BEIJING AFTER MULTIPLE TEAM PROTESTS REGARDING THEIR INITIAL DECISION TO ALLOW THEM TO COMPETE AS NEUTRALS. THE INITIAL DECISION CAUSED OUTRAGE IN THE SPORTING COMMUNITY.
IPC president Andrew Parsons said an "overwhelming number of members" had spoken to the IPC and said they would not compete in the Winter Paralympics should athletes from Russia and Belarus be allowed to take part.
Parsons described the Russian and Belarusian athletes affected as "victims of your governments' actions".
"We are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix," Parsons added.
"However, by no fault of its own the war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes many governments are having an influence on our cherished event."
THIS ABOVE STATEMENT IS AN UTTER DISGRACE. PARSONS SHOULD CONSIDER HIS POSITION WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
THIS ABOVE STATEMENT IS AN UTTER DISGRACE. PARSONS SHOULD CONSIDER HIS POSITION WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
A WAR, AN INVASION, IS NOT POLITICS. THE IPC HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIMPLY FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE IOC AND SUSPEND ALL RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN ATHLETES, BUT THEY CHOSE TO PUT PROCESS OVER PEOPLE, AND NOW THEY SHOULD PAY A PRICE FOR THAT.
THE PARALYMPIC GAMES SHOULD BE BOYCOTTED BY ALL EUROPEAN NATIONS AS A PROTEST AT THE IPC HANDLING OF THE SITUATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE DISGRACED THE GOOD NAME OF DISABLED SPORTS MEN AND WOMEN.
THE PARALYMPIC GAMES SHOULD BE BOYCOTTED BY ALL EUROPEAN NATIONS AS A PROTEST AT THE IPC HANDLING OF THE SITUATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE DISGRACED THE GOOD NAME OF DISABLED SPORTS MEN AND WOMEN.
