Ukraine protests as Russian, Belarusian Paralympic athletes cleared to compete under their nation's flags
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Ukraine's national sports minister said Wednesday that officials from the country would not attend the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, in protest over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. In:
Ukraine's national sports minister said Wednesday that officials from the country would not attend the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, in protest over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags. The ban was issued in response to Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"The IPC can confirm that NPC [National Paralympic Committee] Russia has been awarded a total of six slots: two in Para alpine skiing (one male, one female), two in Para cross-country skiing (one male, one female), and two in Para snowboard (both male)," the committee said in a statement. "NPC Belarus has been awarded four slots in total, all in cross-country skiing (one male and three female)."
The 2026 Paralympics begin on March 6.
Immediately after the invasion in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee effectively barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in Olympic and Paralympic Games under their national flags.

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