Overview
- The International Paralympic Committee has invited six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to Milano Cortina 2026 with full national symbols through bipartite slots.
- Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee will skip the March 6 opening ceremony in Verona, has asked that its flag not be used there, and says its athletes will still compete.
- Italy’s foreign and sports ministers issued a joint statement of absolute opposition, and EU sports commissioner Glenn Micallef says he will not attend the ceremony.
- Poland and Lithuania signaled or announced non-attendance, and Estonia’s Paralympic officials condemned the decision, reflecting widening diplomatic protests.
- IPC spokesperson Craig Spence cited a members’ vote and no recent evidence of Russia promoting the war through sport, while noting ongoing contact with Ukraine’s committee; the athlete places are two para-alpine, two cross-country, and two para-snowboard for Russia, plus four cross-country for Belarus.