Iran says skier deeply disappointed at missing Paralympics because of war

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Iran’s National Paralympic Committee has called it “heartbreaking” that cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi had to withdraw from the Winter Paralympics because of the intensifying conflict in the Middle East. Khatibi was set to be Iran’s only athlete at the Milan Cortina Paralympics but didn’t show up for the opening ceremony last Friday. The International Paralympic Committee said he couldn’t travel safely to Italy due to the Iran war.