IPC Lets Russian and Belarusian Flags Fly at 2026 Winter Paralympics as Ukraine Plans Boycott

Overview

• The International Paralympic Committee granted ten special invitations for Milan–Cortina 2026, allocating six to Russia and four to Belarus with permission to use national flags and symbols.
• IPC representative Craig Spence said the policy contrasts with the current Olympics, where eligible Russians and Belarusians compete only under a neutral flag after meeting conditions.
• Ukraine’s sports minister said officials will boycott the opening ceremony and all official events, and the foreign minister instructed ambassadors to urge other governments to do the same.
• EU commissioner for Youth and Sport Glenn Micallef announced he will not attend the opening ceremony in protest of the return of Russian and Belarusian national symbols.
• The Russian Paralympic Committee named select athletes, including para‑alpine skiers Alexei Bugaev and Varvara Voronchikhina, while Ukraine’s Paralympic chief rejected an athlete boycott despite condemning the IPC decision.