The United Kingdom government aligns with 11 other nations in skipping the opening and closing ceremonies of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics. This action protests the allowance of Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
Background on Athlete Participation
Ten athletes from Russia and Belarus gain approval to participate, the first such instance since their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recently lifted a partial ban, following successful appeals by Russia and Belarus to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a prohibition from FIS, the international skiing and snowboarding authority.
Nations Opting Out of Ceremonies
Seven national Paralympic committees, spearheaded by Ukraine, confirm absence from Friday’s opening ceremony. These include delegations from the Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Five additional countries—the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Croatia—decline to send government ministers or official representatives to both the opening and the March 15 closing ceremony in Cortina.
Logistical Reasons for Team GB
British athletes receive permission to bypass the ceremony primarily due to scheduling conflicts. Attendance risks late travel, sleep disruption, and inadequate recovery ahead of competitions starting shortly after.
Consequently, fewer than 60 percent of participating countries dispatch full delegations to the Arena di Verona venue, citing both protests and logistics.
Official Statements
The Winter Paralympics run from March 6 to 15, following the able-bodied Winter Olympics closing on February 22.
A spokesperson for the British Government states: “We strongly oppose the decision of the International Paralympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. We have been clear that the Russian and Belarusian states should not be represented in international sport whilst the barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. Therefore, no Government ministers or officials will attend the opening or closing ceremonies of the Paralympics.”
The statement notes that Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock travels to Cortina exclusively to support British athletes, adding: “They have worked tirelessly over the last four years to be ready for the biggest moment of their sporting lives and deserve to have the nation behind them.”
French Minister of Sports Marina Ferrari comments: “This is a decision we have carefully considered, one that is respectful of the sporting institutions, the IPC, and the decision already made, but it is a disagreement we are ing with the position that has been adopted.”
