Russia wants wounded soldiers to compete at Paralympic Games

Officials suggest that soldiers injured in Ukraine could appear on one of the world’s biggest athletic stages.

According to Latvian outlet LA.LV, citing LETA, Russia has not ruled out allowing wounded troops from its war in Ukraine to compete at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

The idea was raised by Russian Paralympic Committee president Pavel Rozhkov, who said such participation could be possible in the future.

A controversial proposal

Earlier in March, International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons addressed whether former combatants could take part in the Games.

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“We don’t care what they have done on the battlefield. Of course, war crimes are a different matter, but we as a movement can give them a second chance,” the BBC quoted Parsons as saying.

Rozhkov indicated that Russia would aim to prepare these athletes for participation in events organised under its Paralympic structure.

Reaction and context

“Parsons previously stated that many countries have a practice of involving war veterans, and it cannot be ruled out that Russians who took part in the special military operation will participate in future Paralympic Games,” Russian state agency TASS quoted Rozhkov as saying.

The suggestion comes amid ongoing debate over the role of athletes from countries involved in conflicts.

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At the most recent Paralympic Games, athletes from Russia and Belarus were allowed to compete under specific conditions, following decisions by the IPC.

Sources: LA.LV, LETA, BBC, TASS

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