No Representation With Current Invasion: Should Russia And Belarus Be Banned From The Paralympic Games?
The International Paralympic Committee’s (IPCs) decision to ban Russia and Belarus from the recent Paralympic Games has created a heated debate on the subject. The IPC argues that the ban aligns with its commitment to peace and neutrality, which is very relevant to Russia given the current invasion of Ukraine. But this also raises some good questions– Should athletes be bearing the punishment of Russia as a whole? Especially those with disabilities, should they really be paying for the actions of their government? Is this really fair? It begs the question of if the IPC is making the right call in this, and furthermore, should the ban continue into future Paralympic games? To decide whether or not the IPC has made the right call, we have to look at what is important to the IPC. The IPC’s values consist of: inclusion, equality, and the belief that sports should transcend politics and government. By excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from the ...