TASS: Representatives from over 40 countries attend RPC award ceremony

MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. Representatives from more than 40 National Paralympic Committees attended the award ceremony for the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) "Return to Life" prize. This was announced during the opening of the ceremony by RPC President Pavel Rozhkov.

The ceremony is taking place at the State Kremlin Palace. The award has been presented since 2005 and honors Paralympic athletes – champions and prize-winners of World and European Championships and Cups – who have made significant contributions to the development of adaptive physical culture and sport in Russia.

"Today, the presidents of National Paralympic Committees from more than 40 countries and heads of continental Paralympic committees have come to share our celebration," said Rozhkov. "For us, in the current situation existing in the world today, this is very important. Since 2016, the Russian Paralympic Committee has been under sanctions. Since 2022, the Executive Committee of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has three times submitted to the IPC General Assembly the question of completely expelling the Russian Paralympic Committee from the international sports movement."

"And you know that at the last General Assembly in Seoul at the end of last year, many National Paralympic Committees supported us to prevent our suspension – that was 111 countries against 55. And when the issue of our full reinstatement was decided, we were again in the majority – 91 countries against 77. Thank you to those National Paralympic Committees that support us, have supported us, and will continue to support us," added Rozhkov.

Russian athletes competed at the 2026 Paralympics with the country's flag and anthem. Skier Anastasia Bagiyan became a three-time winner of the competitions, and skier Ivan Golubkov twice ascended to the highest step of the podium. Alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina secured two gold medals, as well as one silver and one bronze. Alpine skier Alexey Bugaev won one gold and two bronze medals.