Russians, Belarusians compete as ‘neutral athletes’ in China


              International Paralympic Committee Chief Brand & Communications Officer Craig Spence, from left, IPC President Andrew Parsons, IPC Athletes' Council Chairperson Jitske Visser and IPC Vice President Duane Kale attend an IPC briefing to Presidents and Secretary Generals of National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, following the IPC Governing Board decision on Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at the Paralympic Village ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Joel Marklund/OIS via AP)
            
              International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons speaks during a briefing to Presidents and Secretary Generals of National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, following the IPC Governing Board decision on Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at the Paralympic Village ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Joel Marklund/OIS via AP)
            
              International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons speaks to a journalist from Ukraine during a press conference at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russians and Belarusians at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as "neutral athletes" because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              A journalist from Ukraine holds a photo of Yevhen Malyshev, a 19-year-old former athlete on Ukraine's junior biathlon team who, according to the International Biathlon Union, died serving the Ukranian military, as he speaks during a press conference at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russians and Belarusians at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as "neutral athletes" because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              International Paralympic Committee Chief Brand & Communications Officer Craig Spence, from left, IPC President Andrew Parsons, IPC Athletes' Council Chairperson Jitske Visser and IPC Vice President Duane Kale attend an IPC briefing to Presidents and Secretary Generals of National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, following the IPC Governing Board decision on Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at the Paralympic Village ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Joel Marklund/OIS via AP)
            
              International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons speaks during a briefing to Presidents and Secretary Generals of National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, following the IPC Governing Board decision on Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at the Paralympic Village ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Joel Marklund/OIS via AP)
            
              International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons speaks to a journalist from Ukraine during a press conference at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russians and Belarusians at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as "neutral athletes" because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              A journalist from Ukraine holds a photo of Yevhen Malyshev, a 19-year-old former athlete on Ukraine's junior biathlon team who, according to the International Biathlon Union, died serving the Ukranian military, as he speaks during a press conference at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russians and Belarusians at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as "neutral athletes" because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              International Paralympic Committee Chief Brand & Communications Officer Craig Spence, from left, IPC President Andrew Parsons, IPC Athletes' Council Chairperson Jitske Visser and IPC Vice President Duane Kale attend an IPC briefing to Presidents and Secretary Generals of National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, following the IPC Governing Board decision on Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at the Paralympic Village ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Joel Marklund/OIS via AP)
            
              International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons speaks during a briefing to Presidents and Secretary Generals of National Paralympic Committees and International Federations, following the IPC Governing Board decision on Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at the Paralympic Village ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (Joel Marklund/OIS via AP)
            
              International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons speaks to a journalist from Ukraine during a press conference at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russians and Belarusians at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as "neutral athletes" because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              A journalist from Ukraine holds a photo of Yevhen Malyshev, a 19-year-old former athlete on Ukraine's junior biathlon team who, according to the International Biathlon Union, died serving the Ukranian military, as he speaks during a press conference at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russians and Belarusians at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as "neutral athletes" because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              A Russian new agency journalist wearing the Sochi Winter Olympic jacket as he line up with his colleague outside a store selling official Olympics memorabilia ahead of the 2022 Winter Paralympics at the Main Media Center in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing will compete as “neutrals,” but will not be expelled because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              The Beijing Olympic Tower is reflected on the window panels of the Main Media Center displaying the logo of the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing will compete as “neutrals,” but will not be expelled because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
            
              A helicopter flies past the Beijing Olympic Tower ahead of the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing will compete as “neutrals,” but will not be expelled because of their countries' roles in the war against Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Russians, Belarusians compete as ‘neutral athletes’ in China