The Paralympic Committee rules that Russian athletes can compete with the national flag and anthem, despite boycott warnings. “The message is one of inclusion and diversity”
Flags in Russian colors waved in the stands at an ice hockey match. Photo credit: SOPA Images, SOPA Images Limited / Alamy / Profimedia
Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games with the flag and the national anthem, following the decision of the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the president of this forum announced on Monday.
The IPC's allocation of 10 combined places for Russian and Belarusian athletes has caused a storm ahead of the Games, taking into account the existing tension at the international level amid the war between Russia and Ukraine, reports Reuters and Agerpres.
“The decision cannot be reversed by the board or by me,” IPC president Andrew Parsons told a news conference at Milan's Allianz Tower.
The Czech Republic, in solidarity with Ukraine
Following the announcement, Ukraine said its team would boycott the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games on March 6 in Verona.
The Czech Paralympic Committee issued a similar statement in solidarity with Ukraine, and Polish officials will also refuse to participate.
Ukraine boycotts the Winter Paralympics. No Ukrainian official will be present at any event in Milan-Cortina, in protest against the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes
Russia demands that sports should not be mixed with politics. “An offense to the disabled”
Andrew Parsons asked the athletes of Ukraine to participate in the ceremony.
“The message we want to send is one of inclusion and diversity. We encourage them to participate, but if they don't want to, we will respect their decision,” Parsons said.
He added that the IPC has not received any official communication regarding further withdrawals since the opening ceremony.
“What I fear is that sometimes these situations can become politicized,” he said.
Russia, which has been banned from many sporting disciplines amid the invasion of Ukraine, said it was wrong to mix sport with politics and targeting disabled athletes was an offence.
Belarus received four places in the para cross-country skiing events, and Russia has been allocated two places in para alpine skiing, two in para cross-country skiing and two in para snowboarding.
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Italy asks the IPC to reconsider the decision
The Italian government disagrees with the IPC's decision and has asked the board to reconsider it.
Parsons said a dialogue was ongoing with the host country, and he hoped to reduce the impact of the divergent positions while ensuring the athletes had the best possible environment to compete.
The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games will take place from March 6-15.
