Ukraine Boycotts the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics
In a forceful act of protest, Ukrainian athletes will not participate in the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.
The decision, announced by the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, is due to the readmission of Russian and Belarusian athletes, who will be able to compete under their own flags. The opening ceremony is scheduled for March 6.
The Ukrainian body expressed its rejection of this measure, calling it “shameful” given that athletes from Russia and Belarus “did not pass the qualification process to obtain licenses” for the Paralympic Games.
This stance aligns with Ukraine’s previous opposition to the participation of athletes from both countries, even under a neutral flag, following the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian sports authorities argue that the decision to allow the participation of Russia and Belarus contradicts the Olympic values of promoting peace, considering the involvement of these nations in the war conflict. Belarus is seen as Russia’s main ally in the war.
This incident adds to the recent tensions between Kyiv and the International Olympic Committee.
The current controversy intensifies the debate about the participation of Russia and Belarus in international sporting events since the beginning of the conflict.
