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The UK Government has announced that it will join the boycott of the Winter Paralympics opening and closing ceremonies following the controversial inclusion of Russia and Belarus at the Games.
Friday’s opening ceremony at Milan-Cortina will mark the return of Russian and Belarusian flags on the sporting stage for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The International Olympic Committee approved the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags rather than as neutrals.
Ukraine were the first country to announce that they would be boycotting the opening ceremony because of political reasons, and they have been joined by several European countries, including Poland, Germany and Finland.
“We strongly oppose the decision of the International Paralympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games,” a UK Government spokesperson said.
“We have been clear that the Russian and Belarusian states should not be represented in international sport while the barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine is ongoing.
“Therefore, no Government Ministers or officials will attend the Opening or Closing Ceremonies of the Paralympics.”
Six athletes from Russia and four athletes from Belarus have been allowed to compete in the Games by the IPC. It will be the first time athletes have competed under the Russian flag at the Paralympics since the 2014 Games in Sochi.
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The Russian flag will be flown at the opening ceremony for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine (AP)
A UK Government spokesperson added: “The Minister for Sport [Stephanie Peacock] will be in Cortina purely to support our inspirational ParalympicsGB athletes, as she was there to support TeamGB at the Winter Olympics last month.
“They have worked tirelessly over the last four years to be ready for the biggest moment of their sporting lives and deserve to have the nation behind them.”