Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete separately at Paralympics 2026

Ukraine Reacts with Disappointment and Anger to IPC Decision

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete under their own national flags at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026. Ukraine’s Sports Minister, Matvii Bidnyi, expressed strong disappointment and outrage over the decision.

According to the IPC, Russia and Belarus will have a combined total of 10 para-athletes participating in the upcoming Paralympic Games. The athletes will compete under their respective national flags, despite being banned from Paralympic competitions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Bidnyi stated that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags is “disappointing and outrageous.” He also criticized President Vladimir Putin, stating that Paralympic sport has been used as a tool for war and propaganda in Russia.

The IPC decision was made after member organizations voted to lift the partial suspensions of Belarus and Russia from Paralympic competitions. However, international federations for each sport on the Paralympic Games programme had maintained bans on athletes from those countries.

Russia will have two spots in Para alpine skiing, two in Para cross-country skiing, and two in Para snowboard. Belarus has been awarded four slots in total, all in cross-country skiing. The IPC’s decision allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Paralympics from March 6 to 15.

The decision has sparked strong reactions from Ukrainian officials, including Sports Minister Bidnyi. Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the skeleton event at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, expressed frustration with the IPC’s decision, stating that it is “absurd” to allow some athletes to compete while others are not.

Source: Al Jazeera