• The Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics starts on March 6, 2026, with over 600 athletes participating.
• Countries including Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Poland are boycotting the opening ceremony.
• The protest stems from the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.

The Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics are set to begin on March 6, 2026, featuring over 600 athletes from 56 nations competing in six sports over the course of ten days. The opening ceremony will be held at the historic Verona Arena, marking a significant moment in a competition that celebrates 50 years of the Winter Paralympics. However, the event is clouded by political tensions, particularly regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their flags, a first since 2014, according to South China Morning Post and Dawn.

In response to this decision, several countries, led by Ukraine, have announced they will boycott the ceremony. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Poland have joined Ukraine in this protest against the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)'s ruling. IPC communications officer Craig Spence acknowledged the boycott and emphasized that many nations had opted not to attend for political reasons, while others cited performance priorities. This highlights the ongoing disagreement over the inclusion of Russian athletes, which has drawn criticism across Europe, according to India Times and India Times.

The IPC has defended its decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, citing a democratic process and previous judgments from governing bodies that support their participation. IPC President Andrew Parsons stated that the decision should not be politicized and expressed disappointment over the boycott. He argued that the nature of the Games is to celebrate athletic achievement and inclusion, despite the ongoing geopolitical controversies surrounding them, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.