The Belarusian Paralympic Committee has been fully reinstated IPC

"Belarus Today" journalists delved into the intricacies of this important and fair decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Our athletes will once again be able to compete at the Paralympic Games and international competitions with their flag and anthem.

This primarily concerns those sports in which the IPC functions as international federations – athletics, swimming, powerlifting, sledge hockey, and shooting.

"Our patient and persistent work, and constant contact with the IPC and the sport federations, have borne fruit. I believe this is only the beginning: the results of the General Assembly will encourage the international sport federations to begin making decisions that ensure maximum athlete participation in competitions, so that sport once again becomes a tool for uniting people, nations, and countries," - Nikolay Shudeiko Generaly Secretary said.

The full return of our athletes to the international arena is expected not only in the sports overseen by the IPC. During the General Assembly, for example, our delegation was assured that a decision on admission would soon be made in wheelchair fencing and other sports under the jurisdiction of international sports federations for the disabled. But for now, the focus is on the Paralympic Games, which will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo this winter. Belarusians have a chance to compete there. 

"We had quite lengthy negotiations with representatives of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), discussing eligibility issues. Currently, the situation is such that virtually all licenses for the upcoming Paralympic Games have been distributed. However, we were assured that our athletes' "frozen" points, which determine their position in the world rankings, will be "unfrozen," and after that, the FIS will distribute the remaining licenses, including among our athletes."

To compete in the Paralympic Games, athletes must meet certain conditions: they must have passed sports medical classification and must also compete in international competitions.

Among the athletes who could potentially perform well in cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Games in Italy are young Roman Sviridenko and Vladislav Kondratov, and experienced Valentina Birilo (née Shits), Lidiya Loban, Darya Fedkovich, Arkady Shikut, Dmitry Loban, and Vasily Shapteboy. Coaches will need to determine which of them is most competitive now; they are planning to send them to upcoming international competitions. Unfortunately, the situation for our Paralympic biathlon athletes is not so positive. The International Biathlon Union has made the same decision regarding both Olympians and Paralympians, barring Russians and Belarusians from international competitions. But things are different with summer sports: Belarusians have already been cleared to compete in major competitions in all disciplines. For example, the World Para Athletics Championships are currently underway in India. Igor Savchuk won our team's first medal there—he won silver in the long jump, setting a national record in his class.  

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