while Russian troops lie in wait for Kiev and Mariupol, the Ukrainian delegation is already in Belarus to resume negotiations

“At the IPC we firmly believe that sport and politics should not mix. However, through no fault of their own, the war has now come to these Games and, behind the scenes, many governments are influencing our cherished event,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons, adding that “the situation is rapidly escalating.” , put the body “in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games.”

It is that, this Wednesday, the IPC had resolved that athletes from both countries could participate under a neutral flag. However, “an overwhelming number of members” contacted the entity to state that they would not be part of the competition if they did not modify that resolution.