Ukraine Boycotts the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics
Kyiv, Ukraine – The Ukrainian delegation has confirmed its absence from the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, scheduled for March 6. The decision is based on the protest against the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus under their own flags. The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee issued an official statement explaining that the absence from the opening ceremony is a clear sign of rejection of the readmission of Russian and Belarusian athletes. Previously, Ukraine had already announced that its leaders would not attend the event for the same reason.Following the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, both countries were initially prohibited from participating under their flags, allowing only the presence of athletes as neutrals. Ukraine had already expressed its disagreement with that measure, and now expresses its outrage at the full readmission. Ukrainian sports authorities argue that the participation of these nations contradicts the Olympic values of promoting peace, by allowing countries involved in the war to compete. Belarus is considered Russia’s main ally in the war. This incident adds to the recent tensions between Kyiv and the International Olympic Committee, following the disqualification of a Ukrainian athlete for displaying symbols considered political, in violation of the rules. The controversy adds a new chapter to the debate over the participation of Russia and Belarus in international sports competitions since the beginning of the conflict.Athletes from Russia and Belarus did not pass the qualification process to obtain licenses to compete in the Paralympic event, calling the organizers’ decision “shameful.”
Ukrainian Paralympic Committee
