Olympics
Days out from the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympics, controversy is threatening to overshadow the start of the Games. Germany’s Paralympic Committee announced today, March 3, it will boycott the opening ceremony, joining a growing list of countries protesting the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their own flags.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) allocated ten combined slots to Russian and Belarusian competitors, allowing them to take part in the Games from March 6 to 15 under their national flags and anthems. The decision, made in September 2025, has sparked a political storm against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Germany’s Disabled Sports Association (DBS) said in a press release that it would not send athletes or officials to the amphitheater in Verona. The decision was made to balance preparation for competitions with a respectful demonstration of solidarity toward the Ukrainian delegation. DBS president Hans-Jörg Michels had initially opposed a boycott, warning it “basically does nothing for the sport.” The sudden reversal highlights the strength of feeling over the IPC’s decision.
“The Paralympic athletes stand for courage, determination and overcoming challenges—and they inspire people worldwide,” the statement read.
“Especially in challenging times, it remains our common task to live the Paralympic values visibly and to resolutely protect the integrity of the sport.”
Ukraine confirmed last week it will skip the ceremony, and Finland has also followed suit. The Czech Republic initially cited competition schedules but has reversed its position to officially join the boycott. Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, and the Netherlands have also signaled they will not attend. Canada and Great Britain are skipping the ceremony for practical reasons—Alpine skiing events begin the following day in Cortina, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Verona, the host of the opening ceremony.
“The IPC is not aware of any other nations choosing not to participate or to boycott the ceremony,” said IPC Chief Brand and Communications Officer Craig Spence.
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Many European National Paralympic Committees, including host Italy, have expressed disagreement with the IPC’s decision. They argue that Russian and Belarusian athletes should compete as neutrals, as they did at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games earlier this month.
For countries and athletes unable to attend in person, the Games organizers plan to film content that will be shown during the ceremony. “We want all of them to have strong visibility in the opening ceremony,” Spence said.
The 2026 Milan0 Cortina Paralympic Winter Games will feature more than 600 athletes from over 50 countries, with events spread across three clusters: Milano, Val di Fiemme, and Cortina. Because of this geographic distribution, fewer athletes will attend the opening ceremony, particularly those competing the next day. Each National Paralympic Committee is encouraged to send two athletes and two officials to represent their country, while volunteers will carry all national flags during the parade.
