The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee has announced a boycott of the opening ceremony for the XIV Winter Paralympic Games, set to take place in Italy in 2026. This decision, revealed late on February 19, comes in response to the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags.
In its statement, the committee expressed its commitment to fighting for the achievements of Ukrainian athletes at the Games while collaborating with athletes from other nations to uphold fairness in Paralympic sports. They emphasized the importance of the Paralympic Games as a premier global sporting event.
The Ukrainian Paralympic community voiced outrage over what they termed a “cynical decision” by the IPC to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2026 Games, despite neither country qualifying for the event. The committee highlighted the ongoing military aggression by Russia against Ukraine, arguing that allowing these nations to display their flags at the Games is inappropriate.
“It is crucial to recognize that Russia, which is currently occupying Ukrainian territories and committing atrocities against civilians, should not be allowed to showcase its flag, stained with the blood of innocent Ukrainians, at the Winter Paralympics,”
the committee stated. They criticized the IPC’s decision as politically motivated and contrary to the principles of fair competition.
On February 18, Valeriy Sushkevych, president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, stated that Ukraine would not consider withdrawing from the Games, asserting that such a move would signify a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukrainian athletes.
The IPC recently confirmed that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete under their national flags, stating they would receive the same treatment as athletes from any other country. In response, Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports, Matviy Bidny, announced that Ukrainian government representatives would also boycott the Games.
The Italian government has expressed strong opposition to the IPC’s decision, with Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi urging the IPC to reconsider its stance. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the Italian officials for their clear position and called on partner countries to join the boycott of the opening ceremony.
In a statement, Moscow condemned the actions of the Italian ministers, claiming they reflect a weakness of the Italian government in the face of what they described as the increasingly audacious demands of Ukraine’s leadership.
The Winter Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place from March 6 to March 15, 2026. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, athletes from these nations were previously allowed to compete only under a neutral flag.
The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee has declared a boycott of the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy, protesting the IPC's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. The committee emphasized its commitment to fairness in sports and condemned the political implications of the IPC's decision.