Paralympics 2026 boycott expands: Three more countries skip opening ceremony over Russia
More countries skip Paralympics opening ceremony (photo: Getty Images)
The diplomatic front around the Winter Paralympic Games in Italy continues to grow. Three more countries have officially announced a boycott of the opening ceremony in protest against the return of Russian and Belarusian symbols to international sport, according to a post on X by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
“These are symbols of war”
Sybiha said that official representatives of Austria, Romania, and the United Kingdom will not appear in the stands during the official opening ceremony of the Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. According to him, 14 countries and the European Union have already decided to ignore the event.
“We are grateful to our partners for their morally balanced position. These are not just flags – they are symbols of a war that has taken the lives of at least 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, destroyed 800 sports facilities, and caused hundreds of thousands of war crimes. We strongly urge all countries to refrain from sending their representatives to the ceremony. Say ‘no’ to war propaganda and sports ‘whitewashing’,” the foreign minister stressed.
It is worth noting that in addition to Austria, Romania, and the United Kingdom, the boycott of the Paralympics-2026 opening ceremony has already been supported by Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, the Netherlands, Canada, Croatia, Lithuania, and Germany.
Reaction to the IPC decision
The conflict erupted after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided to allow six Russians and four Belarusians to compete under their national flags.
Unlike previous tournaments, where they had neutral status, this time the athletes are allowed to use national symbols and hear their anthems during medal ceremonies.
At the same time, the IPC banned Ukrainian Paralympians from using uniforms featuring a map of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
Ukraine at the Paralympics-2026: what is known
Despite the diplomatic protest, the Ukrainian team will compete at the Paralympics, which will take place in Italy from March 6 to March 15. This year, Ukraine will be represented by a record number of participants — 35 people (25 Paralympians and 10 guides).
The official broadcaster of the Games in Ukraine, Suspilne, announced that it will not show the opening ceremony. However, all performances of Ukrainian athletes will be available to watch live.
