Seven countries have decided to boycott the opening ceremony of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games. The reason is the participation of Russian athletes under their national flag, as confirmed by organisers on Thursday.
IPC decision sparks controversy
The announcement of International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ignited the controversy. It directed that six Russian athletes and four from Belarus would be allowed to compete under their national flags. For the very first time since 2014, Russian competitors will return to the Paralympic stage officially representing their country. This decision triggered a furious reaction from several participating nations.
Previously, both Russia and Belarus faced restrictions after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As a result, athletes from the two countries were barred from the Beijing Winter Paralympics and later competed as neutral participants during the Paris Summer Paralympics.
Countries protest Russia’s return to the Games
However, several nations strongly opposed the IPC’s latest decision. According to IPC communications officer Craig Spence, seven National Paralympic Committees have confirmed they will skip Friday’s opening ceremony in Verona for political reasons.
Those countries include Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. Spence clarified the numbers after earlier reports suggested the boycott could involve as many as 15 nations.
Speaking at a press conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo, he said the IPC respects the decision taken by those countries.
At the same time, organisers noted that not every nation absent from the ceremony is taking part in the protest.
Some teams prioritise competition preparation
The decision of the countries relied on logical and practical reasons rather than political ones. Teams from Canada, Great Britian, Germany, and France made the organisers aware of the fact that their athletes would focus on preparing for upcoming events.
Alpine skiing, awating competition, will begin early Saturday morning. Consequently, athletes have chosen to remain near their training bases in Cortina, Val di Fiemme, and Milan
