By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics begin on 6 March 2026, and it has been reported that the Ukrainian team will boycott the opening ceremony - originally the team was going to boycott the entire event - following the invitation by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
They will compete in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding.
Previously both countries had been suspended from Paralympic competition after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Belarus as an ally of Russia.
In September 2025, the IPC lifted its ban on athletes from the two countries competing at the Paralympics.
Although, the IPC does not govern the six sports that will be in contention at the Paralympics and despite the individual bodies, including the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), having refused to lift their own bans, Russia and Belarus won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration of Sport against the FIS ban.
As a result, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been able to compete again in FIS competitions.
The Ukrainian team will compete in the Paralympics and "fight for the sporting victories of Ukrainian athletes.”
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