On February 25, 2023, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed his support for the Italian government’s position regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Milan. His comments came in response to the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) recent decision to allow these athletes to compete under their national flags.
Sybiha thanked Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi for what he described as a “voice of reason, truth, and common sense.” He emphasized that the restrictions imposed on athletes from Russia and Belarus were a direct response to their countries’ aggression against Ukraine, which he characterized as a severe violation of international law.
“Since then, nothing has changed. Aggression, atrocities, and terror continue. What grounds are there for easing these restrictions? There are none,” Sybiha stated. He reiterated Ukraine’s call for officials from other nations to refrain from attending the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games unless the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian symbols is reversed.
In a parallel statement, Minister Abodi reiterated his criticism of the IPC’s decision to permit Russian and Belarusian symbols at the Games. On February 17, the IPC announced that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete under their national flags, asserting that they would be treated like representatives of any other country.
Ukrainian Youth and Sports Minister Matviy Bidny confirmed that Ukrainian government representatives would boycott the Paralympic Games in Italy due to this ruling. The Italian government has also expressed strong disagreement with the IPC’s decision, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Minister Abodi urging the committee to reconsider its stance.
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, Russian and Belarusian athletes were only allowed to compete as “neutral” athletes at the Olympics.
Ukrainian officials have condemned the IPC's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Milan. Italy's government has expressed strong opposition to this ruling, reinforcing its commitment to Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.
Source: Radio Svoboda