Ukraine’s national Paralympic team will boycott the official closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in protest against the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus, according to the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine.
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According to Suspilne Sport on March 15, the decision was confirmed by the National Paralympic Committee, which said the Ukrainian delegation would not attend the final ceremony because athletes from Russia and Belarus were allowed to compete at the Games under their national flags.
The move continues a protest already demonstrated at the start of the Paralympics. Ukraine’s delegation also skipped the opening ceremony earlier in the Games for the same reason. Representatives from 15 other countries reportedly did not attend that event as well.
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The controversy follows decisions by international sports bodies that allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to competition. The International Paralympic Committee permitted athletes from both countries to participate with national symbols during the 2026 Games.
Despite the boycott of ceremonial events, Ukrainian athletes continued to compete in the Games. Ukraine’s team won 17 medals during the competition—three gold, seven silver, and seven bronze—placing the country seventh in the unofficial medal standings ahead of the final day of events.
Earlier, the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine accused the International Paralympic Committee and Games organizers of systematic pressure on the Ukrainian delegation during the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics.
The committee reported several incidents, including officials forcing the team to remove Ukrainian flags from their residence and confiscating national symbols from the family of Paralympic champion Taras Rad.
Ukrainian officials also said the IPC barred the team from wearing ceremonial uniforms featuring a map of Ukraine, citing rules that prohibit political symbols on athletes’ attire.
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