Neutral athletes from Russia, Belarus will not march in Paralympic Opening Ceremony

Individual neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus who are allowed to compete at the Paris Paralympics will not march in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) published eligibility conditions and participation regulations for those athletes on Wednesday.

Previously, the IPC announced in September that athletes from Russia and Belarus are eligible to compete in an individual neutral capacity at the Paralympics and other events sanctioned by the IPC. No teams of Russian athletes are allowed.

The IPC added Wednesday that an independent external body will assess athlete eligibility.

"Athletes and support personnel who have actively supported the war in Ukraine will not be eligible to be entered into the Paralympic Games, neither will those who are contracted to the Russian/Belarusian military or national security agencies," according to a press release.

Approved athletes will compete under the designation Neutral Paralympic Athletes (NPA) with no national colors, flag, country name or symbols.