Ukraine Paralympians to boycott opening ceremony

Ukraine's Winter Paralympics team will boycott the event's opening ceremony next month after Russian and Belarusian athletes were invited to compete under their national flags.

European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef announced he will boycott the Milan-Cortina Paralympics Opening Ceremony in protest of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. Micallef stated that reinstating these national symbols while Russia's war against Ukraine continues is unacceptable.

Ukraine’s sports minister condemned the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the upcoming Winter Paralympics as 'disappointing and outrageous.' In response, Ukrainian officials will not attend the opening ceremony or other official events.

Ukrainian officials announced they will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. Ukraine's sports minister called the decision 'outrageous' and accused Russia and Belarus of turning sport into a tool of war.

Ukrainian officials will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. Ukraine's sports minister called the decision 'outrageous' and accused Russia and Belarus of turning sport into a tool of war.

For the first time in over a decade, Russian athletes will compete under their national flag at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Milan from March 6–15, 2026. This decision, announced by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), also includes the reinstatement of Russia’s national anthem for any gold medal celebrations. In protest, Ukraine announced a boycott of the games’ official events.

Poland’s sports ministry announced that its representatives will not attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in Italy after Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete under their national flags and anthems. The ministry stated that participation by athletes from these countries using their national symbols is 'absolutely unacceptable.'

Valerii Sushkevych, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, stated that Ukraine is not considering a boycott of the Paralympic Games despite the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. He emphasized that not participating would allow Putin to claim a victory over Ukrainian Paralympians.

Ukrainian officials will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. The EU's sports commissioner Glenn Micallef said he would also skip the opening ceremony.

Ukraine's sports minister criticized the International Paralympic Committee's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags, calling it 'outrageous.' In response, Ukrainian officials will not attend the opening ceremony or other official Paralympic events.