The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics commenced Friday under a cloud of diplomatic tension as Ukraine spearheaded a multinational boycott of the opening ceremony. The protest targets the International Paralympic Committee’s controversial decision to permit six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags rather than as neutral participants.
The ceremony, held at Verona’s historic arena—the same venue that hosted the Winter Olympics closing—proceeded without delegations from Ukraine, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Poland. This collective action received additional support from the European Union, which confirmed its representative would similarly abstain from attending.
Valeriy Sushkevych, President of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, articulated the difficult position facing his nation’s athletes. While expressing fury at the IPC’s ruling, he emphasized that a complete competition boycott would ultimately serve Russian interests. “If we do not go, it would mean allowing Putin to claim victory over Ukrainian Paralympians by excluding us from the Games,” Sushkevych stated.
IPC President Andrew Parsons expressed profound disappointment at the ceremonial boycott, maintaining that the event should not become politicized. The Brazilian official defended the committee’s position by referencing two key developments: a September General Assembly vote supporting the return of both nations under their flags, and a December ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that cleared legal pathways for Russian and Belarusian athletes to qualify.
Despite these justifications, the decision has sparked widespread criticism across European political circles and athletic organizations. Hans-Joerg Michels, president of Germany’s National Paralympic Committee, confirmed his organization would not restrict athletes from expressing their views during the Games.
Amid the political discord, the sporting spectacle continues through March 15 across three Italian venues. Cortina d’Ampezzo hosts wheelchair curling, para alpine skiing, and para snowboarding; Milan’s Santagiulia Arena stages para ice hockey; while Val di Fiemme welcomes para biathlon and cross-country skiing events.
The competition features several historic participants, including British para snowboarder Davy Zwy (the first man with motor neurone disease to compete in a Winter Paralympics), Australian dual Summer Paralympic champion Lauren Parker making her winter debut, and El Salvador’s David Chavez—the first Central American representative in any Winter Games history.