Italy opposes Russia flag return at Winter Paralympics 2026
Photo: Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (Getty Images)
Italy has expressed categorical disagreement with allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the 2026 Paralympics, according to a statement by Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and Minister of Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi.
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The Italian government strongly opposes the decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Paralympics under their national flags and with national anthems performed.
“The Italian government, together with 33 other countries and the European Commission, reiterates its disagreement with the decision to fully reinstate the Paralympic Committees of Russia and Belarus, adopted by the IPC General Assembly on September 27,” the statement said.
The ministers also emphasized that Italy expresses full solidarity and support for Ukraine and calls on the committee to reconsider its decision.
“The prolonged violations of the ceasefire by Russia and the Olympic and Paralympic ideals, supported by Belarus, are incompatible with the participation of their athletes in the Games, except as neutral individual competitors,” Tajani and Abodi stated.
Earlier, the International Paralympic Committee officially granted ten athletes from Russia and Belarus the right to participate in the 2026 Winter Paralympics. For the first time since 2014, Russian para-athletes will compete under their national flag.
Following this decision, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the move to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags dirty and disrespectful.
