The International Paralympic Committee’s decision to lift the temporary suspension of Russia and Belarus is a “bold step” but “many will argue it is premature” while the conflict continues, a former IOC executive told AFP.

The vote at the IPC’s general assembly in Seoul on Saturday was a close-run thing but the narrow majority of 51.7% potentially opens the way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina next year.

Russia invaded Ukraine over three years ago, in February 2022, and peace appears a distant hope — Moscow unleashed a massive drone and missile attack against Ukraine lasting 12 hours overnight Saturday.

Terrence Burns, a former IOC marketing executive, told AFP the IPC was trying to perform a delicate balanci

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