The Ukrainian Paralympic team will not take part in the opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games in 2026 due to the admission of athletes from russia and Belarus to the competition.
The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine said this.
According to the Committee, six representatives of russia will perform at the Games under the national flag and anthem for the first time since 2014. It is also noted that they received the right to participate without qualifying.
The statement said that the russian side was given "the maximum number of slots for participation" and the opportunity to use political symbols - the flag and anthem. The committee emphasized that a number of states had requested additional quotas for young athletes and the development of winter Paralympic disciplines, but, according to them, contrary to the regulations for the distribution of slots, the International Paralympic Committee decided to provide the largest number of places to russia.
The Ukrainian committee said that they consider this decision to be political and contrary to the principles of allocating quotas for participation in the Paralympics. In this regard, the team and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine will not participate in the opening ceremony and demand that the state flag of Ukraine not be used at it.
At the same time, Ukraine has confirmed its participation in the competition program of the Games, which will run from March 6 to 15, 2026.
"We will fight for the sporting victories of Ukrainian athletes at the Winter Paralympic Games, and together with athletes from other countries to achieve the principles of justice in Paralympic sports," the statement said.
Earlier it was reported that ten athletes from russia and Belarus received invitations to the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzod'Ampezzo and will compete under national flags - the first time since the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi.
The President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine Valerii Sushkevych criticized the decision to allow russian athletes to compete at the Paralympic Games under their national flag.
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