But many of those events are weeks or months away. The Paralympics will open on Friday and hold its first competitions on Saturday. Most of the 71 Russian athletes competing in 61 medal events are already in Beijing.
Friday’s opening ceremony now could be a stage for athlete protests, and the presence of the Russians in all the competitive events could generate discord and controversy, with some speculation that athletes from other countries could protest or refuse to compete.
Russia-Ukraine War: Key Things to Know
Many top Russian athletes are expected to compete for medals, including the Nordic skiers Nikolay Polukhin and Ekaterina Rumyantseva, who have each won three gold medals at previous Paralympics. Alexey Bugaev, an Alpine skier, and the 17-member Russian sled hockey team, led by its goalie and captain Andrey Kasatkin, are also strong contenders to win medals.
Some, like Bugaev, who was on the slopes Wednesday in nearby Yanqing, have already begun training.
Meanwhile, a delegation of 20 Ukrainian athletes arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, the Paralympic committee said. In an open letter, the athletes had called for the Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes to be expelled from the Paralympics. Ukraine’s team is dominated by biathletes and cross-country skiers, sports where they can expect to face off against Russians in almost every event.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, is a clear breach of the Olympic and Paralympic Charters — a breach that must be met with strong sanctions,” said the statement, which was published in Global Athlete. “If the I.O.C. and I.P.C. refuse to take swift action, you are clearly emboldening [this] violation of international law and your own Charters.
“Your lack of action will send a message to every athlete and the world that you have chosen Russia and Belarus over athlete interests. Your legacy will be defined by your actions.”
The I.P.C. also announced that no events would be held in Russia or Belarus until further notice.
Tariq Panja contributed reporting from London.
