Overview
- Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee reported sustained pressure from IPC and local officials, citing the forced removal of a team flag, a ban on brief team gatherings, and the confiscation of supporters’ flags and traditional headscarves.
- The committee said a representative compelled gold medalist Oleksandra Kononova to remove small earrings with the Ukrainian flag and a “Stop War” message during a medal ceremony.
- Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi denounced the IPC’s actions as immoral, while the Ukrainian NPC demanded the IPC restore adherence to its own constitution.
- The IPC permitted six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags, a shift from neutral status that triggered protests and a boycott of the Verona ceremony by Ukraine and several other delegations.
- Competition continues on March 13 with schedule changes including the snowboard banked slalom moved up to Friday, and Ukraine holds 10 medals and sits seventh in the overall table.