Seven countries to boycott Paralympics ceremony over flag-flying Russians The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed that seven nations and the British government will skip the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in Verona, Italy, in protest against the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine have decided not to send representatives to the event, which will take place on Friday night. The UK government also declined to send officials, citing its opposition to Russian athletes competing under their national flag during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, the minister for sport, Stephanie Peacock, will attend the event in Cortina to support ParalympicsGB athletes. The IPC stated that Russian athletes will compete under their own flag for the first time since 2014, despite being banned from the 2022 Paralympics following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The organization emphasized that its decision to allow Russian participation aligns with democratic principles, as the IPC’s general assembly voted on the issue in September 2025. The vote resulted in no suspension of Russian or Belarusian athletes, reversing previous decisions from 2022 and 2023. Andrew Parsons, the IPC president, defended the move, stating that the IPC respects the decisions of its member organizations and cannot selectively apply democratic principles. Parsons acknowledged the controversy surrounding the decision, noting that it has not been well received globally. He reiterated the IPC’s commitment to supporting all stakeholders and ensuring the event remains a platform for social change, particularly for the 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide.#czech_republic #international_paralympic_committee #estonia #finland #stephanie_peacock
