Russia’s flag and anthem at the Paralympics? These IPC plans have provoked strong opposition from the Italian government.
According to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the flags of Russia and Belarus will fly during the Paralympic Games, starting with the opening ceremony on March 6 in Verona.
But the host Italy criticized this sharply on Thursday. “The Italian government expresses its absolute rejection of the decision of the International Paralympic Committee to allow six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to take part in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games,” said a statement from Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday.
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister of Italy
The statement is also signed by Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. “The continued violation of the ceasefire and Olympic and Paralympic ideals by Russia, supported by Belarus, is incompatible with the participation of their athletes, except as neutral individual athletes.”it continues.
IPC lifted sanctions against umbrella organizations in September
As the latter, so-called “neutral athletes”, 13 Russians are currently competing at the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina. National symbols such as the anthem and flags are banned. But in contrast to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IPC surprisingly lifted the sanctions against the umbrella organizations from Russia and Belarus in September.
Russia and Belarus at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The same rules apply as for the 2024 Olympics in Paris:
- Russians and Belarusians compete as so-called “Individual Neutral Athletes” (AIN).
- Official national teams of both countries are not admitted.
- The world associations can issue their own rules – a complete exclusion applies in the Biathlon Union.
- An IOC panel has verified that the athletes have no ties to the army and do not publicly support the war.
- 13 athletes from Russia and 7 from Belarus are admitted.
- Flags, anthems and outfits in national colors are prohibited.
The IPC recently awarded six starting places to Russian and four to Belarusian athletes. This seemed to clear the stage for national symbols of the two countries at the Paralympics.
Ukraine announces boycott
Ukraine then announced that it would boycott the opening ceremony. “The decision by Paralympic organizers to allow murderers and their accomplices to take part in the Paralympic Games under the national flag is both disappointing and outrageous”wrote Sports Minister Matwij Bidny on social networks. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for four years, and the attacks continue unabated to this day.
A spokeswoman for the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) explained: “As of now I can say that we are looking at ourselves and focusing on the sport.” The DBS had previously repeatedly criticized the IPC’s Russia decision.
Final decision for Italy?
Italy’s resistance could now change the situation. The IPC had pointed out that the final decision rested with the Italian organizers and authorities.