The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics launched Friday evening with an opening ceremony overshadowed by geopolitical tensions, as Russian athletes faced audible disapproval from sections of the audience during their procession under the national flag—marking their first such appearance since 2014.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) permitted six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags despite ongoing military conflicts, a decision that triggered formal boycotts from seven nations including Ukraine, Czech Republic, and several Baltic states. These countries refused to participate in the historic Verona Arena ceremony in protest.
IPC President Andrew Parsons defended the move, referencing a September General Assembly vote that reinstated Russia and Belarus under their flags. “Unfortunately, the situation has not changed,” Parsons remarked during his address, alluding to global conflicts. “In a world where some countries are better known by the names of their leaders, I prefer to know countries by the names of their athletes.”
The ceremony, attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, featured a drum performance by Stewart Copeland of The Police and a minimalist rendition of the Italian national anthem. During the athletes’ parade, the Russian delegation of four competitors was met with booing from certain spectators and volunteers, while the Ukrainian flag received sustained applause. Boycotting nations were represented only by flag-bearing volunteers without athletes or officials.
Giovanni Malago, president of the organizing committee, emphasized the games’ “message of peace, inclusion, and solidarity,” noting its heightened significance amid current global tensions. The event occurs against the backdrop of multiple international conflicts, marking the third time in four Winter Paralympics that the Games have opened proximate to armed hostilities.
Competitions begin Saturday across three venues in northern Italy, featuring over 600 athletes in six sports. Cortina hosts wheelchair curling, para alpine skiing, and para snowboarding; Milan’s Santagiulia Arena stages para ice hockey; and Val di Fiemme welcomes para biathlon and cross-country skiing. The Games continue through March 15, with notable participants including British para snowboarder Davy Zyw (the first athlete with motor neurone disease in snow sports) and El Salvador’s David Chavez (first Winter Games competitor from his nation).