Russia and Belarus are back in the game. There is a sharp reaction from the Polish ministry!
The International Paralympic Committee has decided to restore full membership rights to Russia and Belarus. The reaction from Poland is clear.
The shocking decision was made on September 27 this year during the general meeting of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in Seoul. Countries that were partially suspended – Russia and Belarus – will regain their sports identity at events sponsored by the above-mentioned international organization IPC.
In other words, thanks to the positive vote for Russians and Belarusians, these nations will fully return to the structures of the International Paralympic Committee. The Paralympic Games may turn out to be a sad breakthrough, opening the door for Russia and Belarus to return to full sport.
Sharp reaction of the Polish ministry. This is a response to a scandalous decision
This step was met with considerable outrage in the media. Polish Minister Jakub Rutnicki also decided to speak. He is the head of the ministry responsible for sports and tourism. The minister sent a special letter in which he expresses his outrage at the decisions made in Seoul at the end of September.
“This decision, taken at a time when Russian aggression against Ukraine is still ongoing and innocent people are dying every day, is contrary to the values that should underlie sports and the Paralympic movement (…) I would like to emphasize that until the war in Ukraine ends, until the suffering of innocent people ends, there can be no question of a full-fledged return of Russia and Belarus to the competition sports under their national symbols. This would be not only premature, but also deeply harmful to the victims of this war and to the very idea of sport as a space of peace and reconciliation,” we read in Minister Rutnicki’s letter to the ministers of sport of the European Union countries.
Let us recall that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has been ongoing since the end of February 2022. In the context of the attack by troops led by Vladimir Putin, also supported by Belarusian forces, the winter games in Beijing turned out to be symbolic. At which, by the way, the Russian dictator was present. Right after they ended, Russia carried out an attack, the tragedies on our eastern border continue, but as you can see, it has nothing to do with the IPC’s view of the situation.
