Ukraine to boycott opening ceremony of 2026 paralympics: Scandalous reason
Ukraine’s team has expressed outrage after six Russian and four Belarusian athletes were approved to compete at the 2026 Paralympic Games under their national flags.
Ukrainian Paralympic Team / © facebook.com/NationalSportsCommitteeOfTheDisabledOfUkraine
Ukraine will boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics over the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate under their flags.
The move was announced in an official statement by the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine.
The committee expressed outrage over the cynical decision by the International Paralympic Committee to allow the flags of the aggressor states to be raised at competition venues and to grant Russian representatives the maximum number of participation slots.
Neither Russia nor Belarus completed the qualification process required to secure licences for the 2026 Paralympics, the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine said.
The National Committee’s statement also calls for the Ukrainian flag not to be used during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Games.
Ukraine’s team, however, will take part in the sporting events of the Paralympics, scheduled for March 6–15 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) previously announced that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes would be permitted to compete under their national flags, with the right to use national symbols and have their anthems played at medal ceremonies.
Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, said Ukrainian officials would not attend the Games in response to the decision.
The Italian government has voiced disagreement with the IPC’s move to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags and urged a review of the decision.