Their number remains very uncertain, but the first potential neutral athletes carrying a Russian passport have passed the first stage of their long journey towards the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Pavel Rozhkov, the president of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC), explained to the media that the first qualifiers had been recorded by the IPC after a videoconference interview. It also concerned the members of the management. “After this initial registration phase, the organizing committee will send the accreditation cards of the members of the delegation to the national Paralympic committee, explained Pavel Rozhkov. During this video exchange, we discussed the issues of the number of people in the delegation, accreditation and assistance in obtaining visas. We have been told again that neutral athletes will not be able to participate in the parade, but that they will be able to attend the opening ceremony as spectators. » As a reminder, the IPC was ahead of the IOC on the issue of neutral athletes, announcing at the beginning of March the conditions for their participation in the Paralympic Games, including their ban on parading at the opening.
