Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has ruled that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to compete under their own flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, marking a significant reversal of sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The decision, announced Tuesday, allows for six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes to participate, a move that has sparked condemnation from Ukraine and raised questions about the future of international sporting boycotts.
According to the IPC, the Russian Paralympic Committee has been allocated six slots – two each in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboard – while the Belarusian Paralympic Committee will have four slots in cross-country skiing. Athletes will be treated “like any other country,” a representative, Craig Spence, stated, meaning they will be allowed to march in the opening ceremony under their national flags and have their national anthems played during medal ceremonies.
The decision follows a September vote by IPC members to lift partial suspensions on Russia and Belarus, a move subsequently upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) despite opposition from the International Ski Federation (FIS). This ruling specifically impacts athletes competing in sports governed by the FIS, opening the door for their participation in the upcoming Games.
The reinstatement of Russia and Belarus to the Paralympic movement is being viewed as a potential precursor to a broader reintegration into global sport, just two years before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. However, the move has been met with fierce criticism, particularly from Ukraine, which views it as a betrayal of Olympic values.
Valeriy Sushkevych, president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, described the decision as “an escalation of loyalty towards representatives of a killer state,” expressing his “indignation” to news agencies. Despite the outrage, Sushkevych indicated that Ukraine would not boycott the Games, fearing that doing so would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to claim a victory over Ukrainian Paralympians.
The Russian delegation is expected to include Alexey Bugaev, a triple Paralympic champion in alpine skiing, and Varvara Voronchikhina, a double world champion in the same discipline. In cross-country skiing, Ivan Golubkov and Anastasia Bagiyan will represent Russia, while Dmitry Fadeev and Philippe Shebbo Monzer will compete in parasnowboard. Belarus will field a team of four cross-country skiers, including Anastasia Bagiyan.
Russia’s participation in international sporting events has been severely restricted since 2016 due to repeated doping scandals. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to further sanctions, including bans from competing under the Russian flag and the exclusion of Russian officials from international competitions. Moscow has consistently denounced these sanctions, arguing that sport should remain separate from political considerations and justifying its actions in Ukraine.
The IPC’s decision comes amidst ongoing debate about the role of sport in international relations and the ethical implications of allowing athletes from countries engaged in conflict to compete on the world stage. While the IPC maintains that its decision is based on principles of inclusivity and non-discrimination, critics argue that it effectively legitimizes Russia’s actions and undermines the international community’s efforts to hold the country accountable.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that individual sporting federations still retain the power to impose their own bans. While the IPC’s decision allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags, their participation ultimately depends on whether their respective federations lift their own restrictions. This creates a patchwork of regulations that could lead to further confusion and controversy in the lead-up to the Milan-Cortina Games.
Ukraine’s Sports Minister, Matviy Bidnyi, has repeatedly condemned the move, stating that “war is a crime, not politics.” He emphasized that the decision to allow Russian athletes to compete is a form of “whitewashing” Russia’s aggression and undermines the principles of fair play and international solidarity. Bidnyi also pointed to Russia’s history of state-sponsored doping, raising concerns about the integrity of the competition.
The European Union and its allies have also voiced their disapproval of the IPC’s decision, with some calling for a boycott of the Games. However, a coordinated boycott appears unlikely, as many countries are reluctant to punish their athletes for the actions of their governments. The debate over Russia’s participation in the Paralympics is likely to continue in the coming months, highlighting the deep divisions within the international community over how to respond to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
