Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) granted 10 combined slots to Russian and Belarusian competitors, prompting political backlash.
“The community of Ukrainian Paralympians and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine are outraged by the cynical decision of the IPC to grant bipartite slots to Russia and Belarus,” the Ukrainian committee said in a statement, demanding that its flag not be displayed at the ceremony.
The Czech Paralympic Committee said it would also boycott the opening ceremony in solidarity, while some Polish officials confirmed they would stay away, calling the IPC decision “absolutely unacceptable.”
“Our representatives will not be present at the opening of the Games in Verona, we will not have a flag bearer in Cortina, and we will not be filming messages from athletes that were to be shown at the ceremony,” the Czech committee added.
Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi has previously said Ukrainian officials would boycott the entire Games, although athletes from the country will still compete between 6-15 March.
The decision follows the earlier disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who wore a helmet commemorating athletes killed in the war.
The IPC said it was in direct contact with Ukraine’s Paralympic Committee and the matter would be discussed internally.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry confirmed that the potential return of Russian and Belarusian athletes had not been discussed with the International Olympic Committee and that attention remains on the final days of the ongoing Milano Cortina Games.
Currently, a limited number of Russian and Belarusian athletes are competing as neutral independents, without national flags or anthems, while the Olympic Committees of both nations remain sanctioned.
Russia has criticised the decision, saying it is wrong to mix sport and politics and that targeting disabled athletes is offensive.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar wi...
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf...
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the str...
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of September, covering the latest developments.
Two people have been rescued alive from a tunnel in Nepal, nine days after catastrophic floods devastated the country, as rescuers continue searching for survivors.
A Chinese national was pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said, 10 days after a wall of ice, rock and mud tore through a Himalayan valley, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,600 missing.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the streets following large-scale arrivals in July, local media reported Saturday.
At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 km (20 miles) from La Paz, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said.
The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment