Iran Will Not Compete At Winter Paralympics

Iran will not return portion astatine nan Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, nan International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced.

The IPC said nan solitary jock who was preparing to correspond nan federation astatine nan Games "cannot recreation safely to Italy" because of nan ongoing conflict successful nan Middle East.

Cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei's withdrawal was confirmed connected Friday,, external a fewer hours earlier nan Games' opening ceremonial successful Verona.

IPC president Andrew Parsons said it was "really disappointing for world athletics and particularly for Aboulfazl" that he would beryllium incapable to return portion successful nan Games.

Parsons said: "Since nan conflict began connected Saturday, nan IPC and nan Milan-Cortina 2026 organising committee person been moving tirelessly down nan scenes pinch nan NPC [national Paralympic committee] and nationalist skis federation to find replacement routes for nan safe transition of nan Iran delegation to nan Games.

"However, pinch nan conflict ongoing crossed nan Middle East, nan consequence to quality life is excessively high."

The Middle East has been plunged into crisis, pursuing associated US-Israeli attacks connected Iran targeting nan country's rocket infrastructure, subject sites and leadership. Tehran, successful response, has launched strikes crossed nan region, including connected Israel.

Residents successful Tehran connected Friday said they had knowledgeable nan "worst night" of Israeli strikes truthful acold – pinch nan US saying attacks are group to intensify.

A caller activity of strikes was besides launched connected Beirut, Lebanon overnight, nan Israel Defense Forces said, while Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, reported intercepting Iranian attacks.

The IPC's Parsons said speech pinch Iran's sporting federations had "not been easy" pinch "communication systems down" crossed overmuch of nan country.

He added: "To not compete astatine a Paralympic Winter Games because of factors extracurricular of his power aft years of training and dedication is heart-breaking for nan jock and our sympathies are pinch Aboulfazl astatine this difficult time."

The 23-year-old, who has competed astatine nan past 2 Winter Paralympics, was group to title successful nan men's sprint classical opinionated connected Tuesday and nan men's 10km interval commencement classical opinionated a time later.