Seven Nations to Boycott Paralympics Opening Ceremony Over Russian Athlete Inclusion
Organizers of the Milan-Cortina Paralympics have confirmed that seven countries will boycott the opening ceremony in protest of Russian and Belarusian athletes being permitted to compete under their national flags. This marks the first time since 2014 that Russian athletes will participate under their own flag in the Paralympic Games.
IPC Decision Sparks International Protest
The International Paralympic Committee announced last month that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete under their national flags rather than as neutral competitors. This decision has drawn significant criticism from multiple nations, particularly those neighboring Russia.
"We have Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine," said IPC communications officer Craig Spence during a press conference in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. "These National Paralympic Committees have decided not to attend for political reasons."
Historical Context of Russian Participation
Russia and Belarus were banned from the 2022 Paralympics following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, they were permitted to compete as neutral athletes in the Paris Summer Paralympics two years later. The current decision to allow them to compete under their national flags represents a significant shift in policy that has triggered the current boycott.
Spence emphasized that the IPC respects the decision of these nations to boycott the ceremony, stating that the organization understands the political motivations behind their absence.
Performance Reasons vs. Political Boycott
The IPC clarified that several other countries, including Canada, Great Britain, Germany, and France, will not have athletes present at the opening ceremony but stressed this is due to performance considerations rather than political protest.
"Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, they're not boycotting the ceremony," Spence explained. "They've told us that they are not coming for performance reasons."
With alpine skiing and other events beginning as early as 0830 GMT on Saturday, many athletes have chosen to remain close to their competition bases rather than travel to the opening ceremony in Verona, which is located far from the primary competition sites in Cortina, Val di Fiemme, and Milan.
Ceremony Adjustments and Athlete Representation
To accommodate nations that cannot attend in person, the IPC has arranged for 12-second video submissions from athletes to be incorporated into the opening ceremony proceedings. This approach ensures representation for countries prioritizing athletic preparation over ceremonial attendance.
Spence noted that many nations informed the IPC as early as November 2025 that they would be unable to attend the ceremony at the historic Verona Arena due to performance considerations. "At the end of the day, athletes have been training for this moment for many years," he said, "and if they're prioritizing performance then we're happy with that."
The opening ceremony boycott represents the most significant political protest at the Paralympic Games since the 2022 ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes, highlighting ongoing international tensions surrounding Russian participation in global sporting events.
