Ukraine Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi (Reuters/Yonhap)
Ukraine will skip the opening ceremony and other official events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Paralympics, which begin March 7 (Korea time), in protest of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian teams to compete under their national flags.
According to Reuters, Ukraine’s sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, said on Feb. 18, “Our team will not attend any events during the Games,” adding, “However, we will compete as normal.”
Earlier that day, the International Paralympic Committee approved entries for six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes for the Winter Paralympics. It also decided to allow the use of the two countries’ flags and the playing of their national anthems.
The IPC barred Russia and Belarus from hosting international events and suspended their eligibility after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. It restored their membership at its general assembly in Seoul in August last year.
Russia’s participation as a national Paralympic team marks its first such appearance since the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics, 12 years ago.
According to Reuters, Ukraine’s sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, said on Feb. 18, “Our team will not attend any events during the Games,” adding, “However, we will compete as normal.”
Earlier that day, the International Paralympic Committee approved entries for six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes for the Winter Paralympics. It also decided to allow the use of the two countries’ flags and the playing of their national anthems.
The IPC barred Russia and Belarus from hosting international events and suspended their eligibility after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. It restored their membership at its general assembly in Seoul in August last year.
Russia’s participation as a national Paralympic team marks its first such appearance since the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics, 12 years ago.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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