Ukraine to Boycott Winter Paralympics Over Russian and Belarusian Athlete Participation

Ukrainian officials have announced a boycott of the opening ceremony and official events at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, in protest against the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. While Ukrainian athletes will still participate in the Games, the country’s official representatives will not attend any official functions.

IPC Decision and Athlete Slots

The IPC confirmed on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be able to compete under their own flags for the first time since 2014. Six Russian athletes have been awarded slots in Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing, and Para snowboard, while four slots have been granted to Belarusian athletes in Para cross-country skiing [New York Times]. This decision follows a Court of Arbitration of Sport ruling against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) regarding bans on athletes from the two countries.

Ukrainian Response and Demand

Matvii Bidnyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports, announced the boycott on Wednesday, stating that Ukrainian officials would not attend the opening ceremony or any other official Paralympic events [CBS News]. The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine has also requested that the Ukrainian flag not be used during the Games.

Background and Previous Bans

Russian athletes have been banned from competing under their flag since 2016, following a report detailing state-sponsored doping [Independent]. The ban was further reinforced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Belarus as an ally. The IPC initially maintained a suspension, but the recent ruling has allowed for the return of a limited number of athletes from both countries.

IPC Statement and General Assembly Decision

The IPC maintains that the decision to lift the partial suspension of the National Paralympic Committees of Belarus and Russia was made democratically by IPC member organizations at the 2025 General Assembly [NBC News]. The IPC is currently in dialogue with the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee regarding the situation.

Games Schedule

The 2026 Winter Paralympics are scheduled to begin on March 6th in Milan-Cortina, Italy.