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In brief
- Countries including Ukraine have boycotted parts of the games in protest of Russia’s inclusion.
- The Winter Paralympics run until March 15.
Russia and Belarus have rejoined the Paralympic community, but their return hasn’t been without controversy. Sixteen nations, led by Ukraine and Australia, chose to boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Paralympics.
For the first time in over ten years, the Russian flag was prominently displayed at the Paralympics. This reappearance sparked a notable absence at the ceremony held in the historic Verona Arena, as several countries opted not to participate in protest.
Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Andrii Sybiha, commended Australia for its decision to skip the event. He took to social media, describing the choice as a “principled decision” that aligns with international efforts to challenge Russia’s actions.
Sybiha further criticized the presence of Russian and Belarusian symbols at the Games, arguing that it undermines global sanctions aimed at isolating these nations amidst Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
In contrast to the previous Winter Olympics, which were hosted across four different venues, the Paralympics opted for a more centralized approach, holding its opening ceremony exclusively in Verona.
Russia and Belarus were represented by just two athletes each, after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) last week invited 10 Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the Games.
Other countries which boycotted the opening ceremony include Czech Republic, Finland and Poland.
Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but had been sanctioned since the 2014 Sochi Games due to the country’s state-sponsored doping program.
The countries’ athletes then transitioned to individual neutral athletes at the 2024 Paris Games.
Other disruptions
Severely disrupted global air travel following the US’s joint military strikes with Israel on Iran over the weekend compounded the ceremony’s attendance woes.
Iran’s sole Paralympian Abolfazl Khatibi Mianaei was forced to withdraw from the Games just hours before the opening ceremony as the cross-country skier could not travel safely to Italy, the IPC said.
Giovanni Malago, the head of the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic organising committee, called for peace in his address at the opening ceremony, but was not specific.
“Of course, we cannot ignore that these Games take place in a deeply divided world, torn apart by (the) worst grief and suffering at one of the most dramatic turning points of our time,” Malago said.
“For this reason, the message of peace, inclusion and solidarity at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic movement is more meaningful and more important than ever.”
Separately, Great Britain, New Zealand, Canada, Israel and France were among 29 of the total 55 participating countries who did not send athletes to the ceremony due to a tight turnaround with the competition start.
Australian alpine skier Georgia Gunew is making her Paralympic debut while fellow flag bearer Ben Tudhope opting out of the ceremony due to snowboard cross beginning the following day.
Tudhope is looking to claim an elusive gold medal at his fourth Paralympic appearance, after his bronze in snowboard — and Australia’s only medal — at the 2022 Beijing Games.
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