Sports politics
DBS boss: Russians must condemn war before Paralympics
DBS President Friedhelm Julius Beucher demands that Russian athletes speak out against the Ukraine war. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
President of the Disabled People’s Association Beucher demands that Russian athletes must clearly distance themselves from the war of aggression against Ukraine as a prerequisite for starting the Paralympics.
“We want to have very clear messages about what is neutral and what is not,” said the head of the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) to the German Press Agency on the sidelines of the 53rd Sports Ball on Saturday evening in Frankfurt.
Beucher: “Irresponsible hang-up”
“This declaration of neutrality must say: ‘I detest war and am against war.’ Otherwise it is an implausible window dressing,” he said. “Just declaring that you’re neutral is too vague.” That’s why a letter with this demand was sent to the Paralympics World President Andrew Parsons. Beucher believes that the fact that there is still so much uncertainty regarding the participation of Russian athletes in Paris and that the next Paralympics are approaching is an “irresponsible hang-up.”
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided against excluding Russia and Belarus despite the Russians’ war of aggression against Ukraine. At the end of September, the IPC General Assembly decided to extend the suspension of Russia’s Paralympics Committee for two years, but to allow athletes from the warmongering country back under conditions. Germany and especially other western countries were against re-admission.