For the first time since 2014, the Russian anthem could be played again at a Paralympic event. However, the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision to reinstate athletes from Russia and Belarus has led nations such as Ukraine, Poland, and France to boycott the opening ceremony in protest.
The 2026 Winter Paralympics begin this Friday in Milan and Cortina. This 14th edition will run until March 15 and will be marked by the boycott of several countries, starting with Ukraine, of the opening ceremony in Verona, in protest against the full return of Russian and Belarusian athletes, with anthem and flag, decided by the IPC, the International Paralympic Committee, while the International Olympic Committee still does not allow it.
This measure has caused a deep rift in the Paralympic movement. In a sign of rejection, the national committees of Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland have decided not to attend the opening ceremony.
The tension is not limited to the sporting arena; it has also escalated to the diplomatic level. French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari and the British government have declined to participate in the opening ceremony at the Verona Arena to protest the presence of the ten athletes from Russia and Belarus who received a direct invitation from the IPC.
Despite the political controversy, organizers are seeking to restore the spotlight on sport and entertainment. The historic amphitheater was already the venue for the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on February 22.
A first-class production is expected for the opening ceremony. Confirmed artists include Stewart Copeland, drummer of the legendary British band The Police, the electronic music group Meduza, and musician Dardust, composer of the official soundtrack of the Games.
The event will be attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who will welcome the athletes amid an atmosphere of high anticipation and international division.
Andrew Parsons, president of the IPC, takes note of this decision but points out that the total lifting of the suspension of both countries has been carried out according to the rules:
Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee: “The General Assembly’s decision to lift the partial suspension of Belarus and Russia was a democratic process carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down in the IPC Constitution. I recognize that this decision has not been well received in some parts of the world. But I want to emphasize that the IPC is a democratic international organization whose decisions on the suspension of members are determined by its own members. Last September was the third time the General Assembly voted on this issue. In 2022 and 2023, we presented our members with evidence of the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic Committees’ violation of the IPC Constitution, and the decision at that time was that the suspension would last two years. In 2025, the evidence presented to the members was not the same, which perhaps led to a change in attitude in the voting and the decision. But I can only speculate. I do not vote; I only preside over the General Assembly and I must respect their decision.”
With information from news agencies.