TASS: Rozhkov to Discuss Russian Paralympic Committee's Move to Asian Paralympic Committee in Autumn

MOSCOW, June 2 – TASS. Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) President Pavel Rozhkov plans to attend the Asian Games in Japan and continue negotiations regarding the RPC's transfer to the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC), he told TASS.

"There is a fundamental agreement with the Asian Paralympic Committee," he said. "They constantly say that the doors are open, and the decision rests with the Russian side. I attended the Asian Games last year, and this year I have been invited to the Asian Games in Japan — I plan to go and continue consultations."

According to Rozhkov, the move to the APC is a forced measure. "A number of European countries are refusing to grant visas to our athletes — they cannot participate in qualifying competitions in Europe," he explained. "Moreover, in several European countries, there is a very negative and unsafe attitude toward Russians in general. Joining the Asian committee will provide the opportunity to compete in all events that serve as qualifiers for the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games."

Rozhkov noted that the transfer does not resolve the issue for all sports. "Twenty-nine Paralympic sports are governed by more than twenty international federations, and the move to the APC only resolves the issue for those sports directly under the jurisdiction of the International Paralympic Committee. This issue must be addressed separately for each federation," he added.

The 2026 Asian Games will take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4.