The German Disabled Sports Association will not attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. The association cites organizational foundation – and solidarity with Ukraine – as the reason.
The German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) explained on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) why the German team will not take part in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games on Friday.
“After intensive deliberations within the team and the association, we decided not to take part in the invasion of Verona”said DBS sports director Marc Möllmann in the ARD lunchtime magazine. “On the one hand, there are organizational, sports-related reasons, because the competitions begin the following day.”said Möllmann.
At the same time you also have “a respectful sign of appreciation and solidarity with the Ukrainian delegation” want to set.
Germany in pre-produced Videos included
Team Germany will take part in a digital performance with pre-produced videos, but will not send representatives to the Verona amphitheater. Several other countries had previously announced a boycott of the opening ceremony in protest against the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their own flag to the Paralympics.
The DBS had initially refused to stay away, but announced on Tuesday that it would not take part in the invasion of the nations and would not send any athletes or officials.
Minister also cancels participation
Minister of State for Sports Christiane Schenderlein also canceled her participation in the opening ceremony. The CDU politician said on Tuesday in Berlin that she shared the criticism of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in the games under their national flag. She respects the autonomy of sport, but points out the considerable international reservations against the approach.
Criticism of the organization of the celebration
In any case, only a maximum of two German athletes would have been allowed to enter Verona. As the sports information service reports, interest within the German team in these two places was limited, on the one hand because of the enormous distances from the various games venues and on the other hand precisely because of this participation restriction.
Eskau fears scandal
Multiple Paralympic champion Andrea Eskau fears that the re-admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under her national flag will cause a scandal at this year’s games. In Eskau’s discipline of cross-country skiing, it is quite realistic that a Russian athlete will make it onto the podium together with a Ukrainian athlete – and then the Russian anthem might be heard.
“Two very young Russian athletes have been admitted. I don’t mean them any harm and I wish them great games.”said Eskau in an interview with WDR2. “They didn’t do them any favors by letting them start as Russians. As neutral athletes, they would have had the opportunity to position themselves as such and show that they don’t want war.”
The cross-country skier does not believe that a Ukrainian athlete will stand next to a Russian athlete at an award ceremony. If Eskau is right and such a case occurs, headlines would probably be inevitable.
