Despite the formal starting permit in three of the six sports, no Russians or Belarussia will be able to compete in the 2026 Paralympics.
For example, the Biathlon World Association IBU announced when asked by the “AFP” news agency, both the Russian biathlon association and individual starters remain excluded in accordance with the decision of the IBU congress in September 2022. Accordingly, no Russian para biathletes can qualify.
Also no teams from Russia and Belarus will take part in a wheelchair curling and in para ice hockey. In curling, the qualification phase has already been completed, in which no athletes from both nations were allowed to take part.
Another qualification tournament takes place in ice hockey, but only participants in the last A and B World Championships are eligible. Neither Russia nor Belarus were there.
Only the International Ski Association left his decision on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (March 6th to 15th) to “AFP” demand.
This is “at the discretion of the FIS Council, which will discuss this matter at its next meeting on October 21,” it said. The disciplines of cross -country skiing, snowboarding and skiing alpine fall under the direction of the FIS.
At its general assembly on Saturday in Seoul, the International Paralympic Committee had decided to cancel the partial suspension of Russia and the ally of Belarus, which has been in effect since the War of Agency against Ukraine, and to add the two national committees to the organization as full members.
This decision formally paved the way for the participation of Russian and Belarusian para athletes under their respective flag.
The final decision is the responsibility of the international associations.