UK Joins Boycott of Paralympics Opening Ceremony Over Russian and Belarusian Participation The United Kingdom has joined Ukraine and other nations in boycotting the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Italy, protesting the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national flags. Officials and the British team have refused to attend the opening and closing ceremonies in Verona, Italy, as a form of protest against the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian competitors in the event. A representative from the UK’s prime minister’s office stated on Thursday, March 5, 24 hours before the ceremony, that Russia and Belarus should not be represented in international sports while the full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues. The boycott is part of a broader international response to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paralympics. Earlier, teams from Ukraine, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Canada, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia had also announced plans to skip the opening ceremony for the same reason. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiaga, had called for the boycott, emphasizing the need to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. Russian and Belarusian athletes are participating in the Paralympics in Italy after their national paralympic committees were reinstated by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in September 2025. This followed the suspension of their memberships after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. However, their participation in the Paralympics was contingent on approval from international sports federations.#ukraine #uk #international_paralympic_committee #court_of_arbitration_for_sport #international_ski_federation
