Eight nations, along with the European Union, have confirmed their intention to boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan. This decision stems from the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags, as stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following discussions with Valerii Sushkevych, head of the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee.
Sybiha indicated that the list of countries participating in the boycott is expected to grow. He noted that while some partners have made public statements, others have communicated their support through diplomatic channels.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is actively working to expand the coalition of boycotting nations, particularly targeting those whose decisions could trigger a domino effect. Sybiha criticized the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for what he termed ‘unsporting behavior,’ asserting that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national symbols is a disgraceful decision that serves the interests of aggressor states.
Efforts are also underway to engage with Italy, the host nation, where both the foreign and sports ministers have expressed strong opposition to the IPC’s decision, framing the issue as a matter of civilizational importance.
Sybiha highlighted that the Russian Paralympic Committee has publicly shared information about its activities in occupied Crimea, suggesting that the display of Russian state symbols would be a direct endorsement of propaganda and an indirect acknowledgment of the occupation. He urged Italy to utilize all available means to prevent such a situation from occurring on its territory.
On February 25, Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi reiterated his criticism of the IPC’s decision to permit Russian and Belarusian symbols at the Games in Milan. The IPC announced on February 17 that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete under their national flags, stating that these athletes would be treated the same as representatives from any other country.
Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports, Matviy Bidny, confirmed that Ukrainian government representatives would also boycott the Paralympic Games due to this ruling.
The Italian government has expressed strong disagreement with the IPC’s decision, with Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, along with Minister of Sports Andrea Abodi, calling for a review of the decision.
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 permitted to compete as ‘neutral’ athletes at the Olympics.
Eight countries and the EU have announced a boycott of the 2026 Paralympic Games opening ceremony in response to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national flags. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is working to expand this coalition, emphasizing the implications of the IPC's decision.