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The International Paralympic Committee have stopped athletes from Russia and Belarus from marching in the opening ceremony at this summer's Games in Paris and won't add their achievements to the medals table.

They are just two of a host of restrictions placed by the IPC on vetted participants from both nations, who will compete as neutral Paralympic athletes in France.

The rules follow a decision at the September 2023 IPC general assembly to partially suspend the national Paralympic committees (NPCs) of Russia and Belarus for a period of two years due to their involvement with the war in Ukraine.

An IPC announcement read: "The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) governing board has published strict eligibility criteria that Russian and Belarusian athletes and support personnel must meet and adhere to in order to participate as neutrals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

"Subject to full compliance with the regulations, NPC Russia and NPC Belarus will be permitted to enter their licensed, eligible, and qualified athletes (and support personnel) into the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in an individual capacity only, meaning no teams.

"At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games these individuals will be referred to as neutral Paralympic athletes (NPA) and will compete in uniforms approved by the IPC that must not feature any national colours, flag, country name or national emblem, symbol or designation.

"Medal wins will not be recorded on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games medals table and, should a neutral athlete win a gold medal, the Paralympic anthem will be played.

"As the athletes will participate in an individual and neutral capacity, they will not march in the opening ceremony on 28 August or have a flagbearer at the closing ceremony on 8 September."

The IPC is in the process of appointing an independent external body to assess the eligibility of athletes and support personnel and added: "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."

Neutral athletes will compete under a black flag, with white lettering spelling out NPA, its use restricted to TV and sports presentation graphics and during medal ceremonies.