2026 Winter Paralympics Boycott Explained: Why Seven Nations Protested Russia and Belarus at Milano Cortina

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics were supposed to be a celebration of inclusive sport at its finest. Instead, the Opening Ceremony at the Arena di Verona on 6 March was overshadowed by a political storm, as seven nations boycotted the event in protest at the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Here is a full breakdown of what happened, why it matters, and how it has affected the Games.

What Triggered the Boycott?

The controversy centres on a decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics under their own national flags. This is a significant shift from recent years.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both Russia and Belarus were banned from Paralympic competition. Russian and Belarusian athletes had not competed as nations at a Paralympic Games since Sochi 2014. Their return — and the decision to let them use their national flags rather than compete as neutrals — proved deeply controversial.

Which Countries Boycotted the Opening Ceremony?

The IPC confirmed that athletes and officials from seven nations did not attend the Opening Ceremony:

• Ukraine
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland

Additionally, several other countries took partial stances. Austria, the United Kingdom, and Romania joined the boycott in different ways — with the UK government refusing to send officials to the ceremony. Athletes from Canada, Britain, Germany, and France chose to skip the Opening Ceremony, with many citing the need to “prioritise athletic performance” while also expressing solidarity with Ukraine.

The UK’s Position

The British government’s decision to boycott the ceremony attracted significant attention in the UK. While ParalympicsGB athletes did not attend the Opening Ceremony, they have continued to compete in the Games themselves. The UK government stated that sending officials to the ceremony would be inappropriate given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

This mirrors the approach taken by France, which also withheld government representation from the ceremony while allowing its athletes to compete.

The IPC’s Defence

The IPC has defended its position by arguing that athletes with disabilities from Russia and Belarus should not be collectively punished for the actions of their governments. The Paralympic movement’s core mission is to promote the inclusion and achievement of athletes who overcome significant disabilities to compete at elite level.

IPC officials argued that banning individual athletes — many of whom have no connection to or support for the war — would contradict the fundamental values of the Paralympic movement. They also pointed out that only ten athletes from the two nations qualified for the Games, a very small number relative to the 616 total competitors.

The Wider Debate

The boycott has reignited a long-standing debate in international sport about the relationship between politics and competition. Supporters of the boycott argue that allowing Russia to compete normalises the invasion of Ukraine and sends a dangerous message. They point to the precedent set by banning South Africa from international sport during apartheid.

On the other side, those who oppose blanket bans argue that individual athletes should not bear responsibility for their government’s actions, and that sport can serve as a bridge between nations even during conflict.

A Curling Controversy Too

Adding to the political tension, a separate controversy erupted in the wheelchair curling competition. Reports of a “curling stones scandal” added further drama to what was already a politically charged Games, though the sporting competition has largely continued without disruption.

Impact on the Games

Despite the ceremony boycott, all seven protesting nations have continued to compete in the sporting events themselves. The boycott was limited to the ceremonial aspects of the Games, meaning the actual competition has not been directly affected.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics still feature a record 56 nations and 616 athletes, making them the largest Winter Paralympics in history. The quality of competition has been exceptional, with the sporting stories increasingly dominating the headlines as the Games progress.

However, the controversy serves as a reminder that the Paralympic Games, like the Olympics, exist within a broader political context that cannot simply be ignored. How the IPC handles the relationship between sport and geopolitics will continue to be scrutinised in the years ahead.