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DBS criticism of the IPC decision: "In view of the atrocities of war, we would not have thought it possible"
Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) has sharply criticized the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow Russia and Belarus to compete in the Paralympics in Beijing.
The IPC decision was "unacceptable and given the current geopolitical situation sent the wrong signal".
Despite Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete, albeit neutrally and under the Paralympic flag.
The anthems are also not allowed to be played.
Both associations are also not included in the medal table.
DBS President Friedhelm-Julius Beucher called the decision “disappointing and despondent.
Given the daily horrors of war in Ukraine, we would not have thought such a decision possible.
It would have taken a consistent decision, now and not after the Paralympics.«
It is "incomprehensible," emphasized Chef de Mission Karl Quade, "that the IPC makes a completely different decision than the vast majority of the sports world.
I have been a member of the Paralympic Movement since the IPC was founded in 1989, but I am deeply ashamed of this decision.
Many national committees have shown total incomprehension for this decision, including us.«
Beforehand, the DBS had called for the Russian and Belarusian teams to be excluded from the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, both publicly and in a letter to the IPC.
"A Russian invasion is raging in Ukraine and the IPC is relying on rules and paragraphs, we have no understanding for that," said DBS President Beucher: "In a situation like this, moral and political decisions are needed, not legal ones.
I still cannot and still do not want to imagine that Russian and Ukrainian athletes will enter the stadium for the opening ceremony on Friday and compete in sporting competitions on Saturday.
We respect a democratically made decision, but we cannot accept it.«
The Games for People with Physical Disabilities will open in Beijing on Friday and will last until March 13.
mon/sid