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Paralympic governing body lifts ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes ahead of 2026 games
The International Paralympic Committee granted 10 slots to Russia and Belarus for the 2026 Winter Paralympics, marking a partial restoration after bans linked to doping and the Ukraine invasion.
- On Tuesday, February 17, the IPC confirmed 6 Russian and 4 Belarusian athletes will compete under their flags at Milan-Cortina 2026, with 10 wildcard spots for March 6-15, treated like any other country.
- The IPC's September vote to lift the suspension followed a 2023 partial suspension replacing a complete ban after Russia's 2022 invasion, with athletes gaining ranking points after a CAS appeal in December.
- The Russian Paralympic Committee received six wildcards in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding, while Belarus' four places are focused in cross-country skiing; participants include three-time alpine skiing gold medallist Alexey Bugaev.
- Despite the IOC requiring athletes to compete under neutral flags, Valeriy Sushkevych responded that Ukraine will not boycott the Paralympics, risking a victory for Vladimir Putin, he said he was 'very, very angry and outraged.'
- Precedent at the current Winter Olympics shows sports governing bodies remain divided over Russia, with some easing bans following legal and political pressure, as 13 Russians and 7 Belarussians compete under similar terms.
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Exactly a month after the beginning of the Olympics in Milan and Cortine d'Ampetszo in Italy, the Paralympic Winter Games will be held from 6 to 15 March, and this time, for the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russians will participate with a flag and anthem.
Ukraine's officials to boycott Paralympics over Russian flag decision
Ukrainian officials will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games, Kyiv said Wednesday, after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian athletes to compete under their national flag.
Latvia had hoped to have 8 athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, but one of the Latvian places will be taken by Russia. The Baltic states condemn the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes not only to return to the Winter Paralympics, but also to appear there under their national flags.
Russia, Belarus allowed to compete at Paralympics
Russia and its ally Belarus will compete under their own flags at next month’s Paralympics following a yearslong ban. Both were barred from Olympic and Paralympic competitions after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though some athletes were permitted to participate under a neutral flag. The international Paralympic federations had said they would maintain the ban, but the two countries won an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport: 10 …
Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will compete under their respective flags at the March Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Sky Sports reports.
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