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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul MacInnes

Winter Paralympics: Russian athletes competing as neutral sparks backlash

Russians will compete using the name of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) and under the flag of the IPC
Russians will compete using the name of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) and under the flag of the IPC Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

The International Paralympic Committee is to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Winter Games this week, despite a global outcry after the invasion of Ukraine.

An emergency meeting of the IPC’s executive committee on Wednesday determined that 72 Russian athletes would be allowed to take part in Beijing as “neutral” competitors. The decision was strongly criticised by both the UK government and ParalympicsGB, with the possibility of a British boycott of the Games not ruled out.

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