At least seven countries have announced they will boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milan Cortina in protest at the participation of Russian athletes under their national flag.
The boycott is led by Ukraine, which says allowing Russia and Belarus to compete with full national symbols while the war in Ukraine continues is “unacceptable” and amounts to recognising a “killer state” at a top sports event.
Other countries joining the protest include Poland, Finland, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with officials from these nations confirming they will skip the ceremony to show solidarity with Ukraine.
The International Paralympic Committee has allocated 10 slots for Russian and Belarusian athletes, who have been cleared to compete under their flags and anthems after earlier bans linked to the invasion of Ukraine.
While the boycotting countries still plan to take part in the sporting events, their absence from the opening ceremony is intended as a strong political message to the IPC and the wider international community.
European Union sports officials have also criticised the decision to restore Russian and Belarusian national symbols at the Games, saying it sends the wrong signal while the conflict and civilian suffering in Ukraine continue.
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