paralympic Athletes from Russia and Belarus to Compete at Milan-Cortina Games
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has voted to lift the partial suspension of Russia and belarus, allowing athletes from both nations to compete at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy. This decision reverses the ban imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
The IPC announced that Russia will be represented by six athletes: two in alpine skiing (one male,one female),two in cross-country skiing (one male,one female),and two in snowboarding (both male). Belarus has been allocated four spots, all in cross-country skiing (one male, three females).
IPC spokesperson Craig Spence stated that these athletes will be treated no differently than athletes from any other country, meaning they will be permitted to march in the opening ceremony under their national flags, wear their national colors, and have their national anthem played should they win a medal.
This decision follows a September vote by IPC members to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags and wiht their national anthems. The decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) despite opposition from the International Ski Federation (FIS). As a result, athletes from Russia and Belarus competing in sports governed by the FIS are now eligible to participate. This ruling potentially paves the way for a broader reintegration of Russia and Belarus into the global sporting community ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The decision has drawn strong condemnation from Ukraine. Valeriy Sushkevych, President of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, described the move as “an escalation of loyalty to representatives of a killer state” and expressed his indignation to AFP. Despite his outrage, Sushkevych stated that a boycott would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to claim a victory over Ukrainian paralympians, and therefore, Ukraine will not be boycotting the games.
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