Middle East conflict
Paralympian is not allowed to travel to Italy
Updated March 6, 2026 – 4:52 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Before the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games, the IPC announced that the only Iranian starter would not be able to travel. However, this has no sporting reason.
Cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei should have been the only Iranian athlete to start at the Paralympic Winter Games in Italy. However, due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, safe travel is not possible. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced this shortly before the opening ceremony.
The two-time Paralympic participant should have started in two cross-country skiing competitions in Tesero. IPC President Andrew Parsons said that since the beginning of the conflict, they had worked “tirelessly” to find safe routes for the Iranian delegation. However, the risk to human life is too high.
“Not being able to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games – due to circumstances beyond his control after years of training and dedication – is heartbreaking for the athlete. Our condolences go out to Aboulfazl at this difficult time,” said Parsons.
The Iranian flag will not be carried into the opening ceremony in the Roman amphitheater in Verona. In the afternoon it was still blowing at the shooting range in the cross-country skiing stadium in Tesero.
There was also a turnaround in the participation of athletes in the opening ceremony. As the IPC announced, 28 of the 55 nations will send one or two athletes to Verona. These include Austria, Australia and the USA. Russia will also be there with one cross-country skier. Despite the war against Ukraine, Russian athletes are allowed to compete under the country’s flag, and their anthem would be played if they won.
The German team, however, decided not to take part in the opening ceremony with athletes. The standard bearers Anna-Lena Forster (alpine skiing) and Jörg Wedde (para-ice hockey) are only recorded via video.
