Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made a controversial decision in February to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags and with the possibility of hearing their national anthems.
This decision prompted numerous countries to boycott the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games held at the Verona Arena.
The Ukrainian team’s flag was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience, carried by Games volunteers, though no Ukrainian athletes were present.
In protest of the inclusion of athletes from aggressor nations, the opening ceremony was similarly boycotted by countries supporting Ukraine, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Romania, Croatia and Canada.
ZUMAPRESS / Scanpix nuotr./Lietuvos vėliavą paralimpinių žaidynių atidaryme nešė savanoriai, bet lietuvių ten nebuvo – jie boikotavo renginį dėl įleistų šalių-agresorių Rusijos ir Baltarusijos atstovų.
Russian athletes, appearing in red attire at the Verona Arena, were met with boos from the audience.
The IPC authorized six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete in the Paralympic Games.
For the first time, these nations, accused of aggression, were permitted to participate not under a neutral flag, but with their national symbols, and their anthems will be played for any victories.
Russian symbols had been absent from the Games since 2014, initially due to a state-sponsored doping program and subsequently due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to their exclusion from many international competitions.
At the preceding Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, thirteen Russian athletes competed under a neutral status, as previously recommended by the International Olympic Committee.
According to the Associated Press, the IPC’s decision to accommodate the aggressor nations signals that their flags may return to Olympic events before the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, despite some audience members booing the Russian athletes at the Paralympic opening ceremony.
The flag of Iran was not present at the Verona ceremony. The sole athlete representing Iran, skier Aboulfazlas Khatibi, withdrew prior to the Games due to safety concerns related to military actions in the Middle East, where the U.S. And Israel recently launched attacks on Iran.
The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games on March 7, 2026, was marked by significant protest as several nations boycotted the event in response to a controversial decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The IPC had recently allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags, a move that drew immediate condemnation from countries supporting Ukraine. This decision also permits the playing of national anthems for any winning athletes from these nations.
In solidarity with Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Romania, Croatia, and Canada all chose not to participate in the opening ceremony. Volunteers carried the Ukrainian flag during the ceremony, but no Ukrainian athletes were present.
The presence of Russian athletes at the Verona Arena was met with audible disapproval from the audience, who responded with boos. The IPC has authorized six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete in the Games.
This marks the first time since 2014 that Russia and Belarus will compete with their national symbols at the Paralympics. Russian athletes were previously banned due to state-sponsored doping allegations and, more recently, the invasion of Ukraine. At the prior Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, Russian athletes competed under a neutral flag.
The Associated Press reported that the IPC’s decision raises concerns about the potential return of national flags to future Olympic events, including the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Iran’s flag was also absent from the ceremony, as its sole athlete withdrew due to safety concerns related to ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East.
