The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly voted on Saturday to reinstate the full membership rights of the National Paralympic Committees of Belarus and Russia, reported Xinhua.
The decision, taken at the 2025 IPC General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, means NPC Belarus and NPC Russia now regain their full rights and privileges of IPC membership, having been partially suspended at the 2023 assembly for breaches of their constitutional membership obligations.
The IPC General Assembly, comprising National Paralympic Committees, International Federations, and International Organizations of Sport for the Disabled, first voted against a motion to fully suspend NPC Russia, with 111 votes against, 55 for, and 11 abstentions. They subsequently voted against a motion to partially suspend NPC Russia, with 91 votes against, 77 for, and eight abstentions.
For NPC Belarus, the assembly voted against motions to fully suspend (119-48 with 9 abstentions) and partially suspend (103-63 with 10 abstentions) the NPC. For a motion to be passed, a majority of 50 percent + 1 of all votes cast was required.
The IPC stated it will work with the two members to implement the practical arrangements for their reinstatement as soon as reasonably possible.
Meanwhile, Andrew Parsons was re-elected as president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for a third term on Saturday at the 2025 IPC General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea.
Parsons, former president of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and Americas Paralympic Committee, received 109 of the 177 votes cast, defeating South Korean candidate Dong Hyun-bae, who received 68 votes.
Parsons, who first became the IPC's third president in 2017, has overseen the delivery of the PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
His leadership during the pandemic and his success in securing a long-term partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through to 2032 were noted as key achievements.
- Andrew Parsons
- IPC
- President
- Russia
- Belarus
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
