The Ukrainian Paralympic team has announced it will not participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics due to the presence of athletes from Russia and Belarus. This decision was communicated through an official statement from the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine.
Recently, the International Paralympic Committee issued invitations to six Russian and four Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete under their national flags at the upcoming Games. This last-minute decision has raised significant concerns among various stakeholders.
Valerii Sushkevych, the head of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, had previously indicated that the team would not boycott the Games entirely. However, the decision to abstain from the opening ceremony was made specifically because of the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian representatives.
The committee emphasized that the decision to allow these athletes to participate is politically motivated and contradicts the principles governing athlete participation in the Paralympics. They expressed concern that this move enables Russia to showcase its national symbols, including its flag and anthem, during the event.
“The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine states that the Ukrainian Paralympic team and the committee will boycott the opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games and demands that the Ukrainian flag not be used at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympics,” the organization declared.
Prior to this announcement, Ukrainian officials had publicly stated their intention to skip the opening ceremony. In contrast, the Italian government has opposed the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national symbols.
The 2026 Winter Paralympics are scheduled to take place from March 6 to March 15 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, featuring a total of 79 medal events.
The Ukrainian Paralympic team has decided to boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics due to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. This decision reflects ongoing tensions regarding the political implications of their inclusion in the Games.