The Netherlands has said it will not organise this year’s European para swimming championships because of the involvement of both Russia and Belarus, whose athletes will take part under their own flags.

The decision was taken together with the foreign affairs and sports ministries, Armoud Strijbis, director of the Dutch swimming association KNZB, told current affairs programme Nieuwsuur on Tuesday evening.

The International Paralympic Committee has demanded the KNZB allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part with their own flags and anthems, Strijbis said. “But it is not up to us who comes to the Netherlands – that is up to the government,” he said. “So we can never guarantee someone can participate under their own flag.”

“We have therefore concluded that we cannot comply with the contract,” he said.

Next year’s Olympics

The European championships are part of the route to next year’s Paralympics in the US and as yet no alternative host has come forward.

On Tuesday it emerged that Dutch Olympic committee officials will not attend any events at the Paralympics in Verona if the Russian or Belarusian flag is shown or either national anthem is played.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)’s general assembly confirmed on Monday that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to take part under their own flags, a controversial decision given that the war in Ukraine is ongoing.

The NOC*NSF decision means there will be no officials at the opening ceremony on March 6, chairwoman Anneke van Zanen told broadcaster NOS. “On the one hand there is a practical reason (the Dutch are based in Cortina, three hours from Verona) but it also works out well,” she said.

No Dutch athletes – the Netherlands is sending eight – are expected to attend either.