Latvia Condemns IPC Decision to Allow Russian Athletes in Paris Paralympic Games

In the near future, it is planned to convene a meeting of the Latvian National Sports Council to consider the issue of further action and the participation of Latvian athletes in the Paris Paralympic Games, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV) told LETA.

She pointed out that at a time when Russia, with the support of Belarus, continues to kill Ukrainian citizens, destroy Ukrainian civilian objects, including sports infrastructure, it is unthinkable that Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate in international sports competitions. Latvia unequivocally condemns the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian athletes to participate in the competition as a neutral athlete, Siliņa said.

It has already been reported that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted against not allowing Russian athletes to participate in the Paris Paralympic Games at its congress in Bahrain on Friday.

Although Russia has been at war in Ukraine for more than a year and a half, 74 IPC member states voted for Russian athletes to participate in the Games, 65 voted against, and 13 countries abstained.