No ParalympicsGB athletes will be present in Verona
IPC say Russian presence ‘determined by members’
Seven nations and the British government will boycott the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in protest at the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, organisers have confirmed.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said that the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine would not be sending athletes or officials to the ceremony on Friday night.
Other countries – including Great Britain – have said they will not be sending athletic representation due to the imminent start of competition. Currently the IPC estimates fewer than 60% of the competing countries will send a full delegation to the event in the 2,000-year-old Arena di Verona.
