Paraplympics boss says no reason to sanction Israel

Andrew Parsons has said wars and conflicts should not influence participation in the Games, which need to convey a message of hope and support.

The IPC said in March that Russian and Belarusian athletes joining the Paris 2024 Paralympics would not be part of their opening ceremony.

Russian and Belarusian athletes cannot take part in team competitions at the July 26-August 11 Olympics and the August 28-September 8 Paralympics, but are allowed to participate as neutrals - without flags or anthems being played.

Israel, however, will fully participate in the Games despite at least 35,456 Palestinians having been killed in Israel's military offensive in Gaza since October 7, according to Gaza's latest health ministry figures.

"The situations are different," Parsons told Reuters 100 days before the start of the Paris Paralympics.

"The Russian and Belarusian Paralympic Committees were suspended because both organisations have breached the (Olympic) constitution.

"They used the Olympic movement to promote the war and the invasion of Ukraine."

Olympic authorities believe Israel should not be penalised.

"In the case of Israel, the Paralympic Committee and even the Palestine Paralympic Committee have not done anything of that nature, so we don't have any process in place when it comes to suspending those national Paralympic committees," Parsons said.

"So far, the two national Paralympic (committees) are in line with our constitution, and we don't have any suspension process in place targeting those two nations."

Parsons added the Olympic movement should keep a cool head and promote peace.

"We don't want to be directed by the conflicts around the world," he said. "I think the message is the other way around, that even if there are countries who are in conflict, even in the most difficult and challenging situations, support can still be a beacon of hope."

Australian Associated Press