Overview
- Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes are cleared to compete with national flags, uniforms and anthems at the Milan–Cortina Winter Paralympics from March 6–15.
- Ukraine’s Paralympic committee will skip the March 6 opening ceremony in Verona and asked that its flag not be used, while athletes will still compete in events.
- Ukrainian sports minister Matviï Bidny said no officials will attend the Games or take part in official functions.
- Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani and sports minister Andrea Abodi urged the International Paralympic Committee to reconsider, voicing full solidarity with Ukraine.
- The Russian embassy in Rome called Italy’s position offensive and undiplomatic, while the IPC said the decision followed a members’ vote and noted it had received no formal boycott notice from Kyiv or Prague.