The IPC said six Russian and four Belarusian athletes have been awarded invitations to compete at the Games in para-alpine skiing, para cross-country skiing and para-snowboarding. The committee lifted its broader suspension of the two countries in September, after previously allowing athletes to compete only as neutrals following Russia’s 2022 full-invasion of Ukraine.
The decision is now drawing political backing across Europe. EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef said he would skip the ceremony, warning that the IPC’s decision risked undermining solidarity with Ukraine.
Estonia’s Paralympic Committee has also condemned the move, with its governing officials saying they will not attend the opening ceremony.
In Poland, the head of the national Paralympic Committee told Polsat News his organization was considering a boycott, calling the IPC’s decision “scandalous” and the result of Russian lobbying.
Italy — host of the 2026 Winter Games — has also stepped up diplomatic pressure. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi urged the IPC to reconsider, expressing Rome’s “absolute opposition” and arguing Russia’s continued violations of Olympic ideals make participation under national flags unacceptable.
The dispute follows recent tensions between Kyiv and the International Olympic Committee after Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics for attempting to wear a helmet honoring athletes killed in the war — a penalty that was upheld despite protests.