Boo, Rus! Russian Athletes Jeered During Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics Parade!

Last Updated:March 07, 2026, 08:24 IST

The decision to include Russia in the opening ceremony caused Ukraine, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to boycott the event at the Verona Arena.

The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics commenced on Friday with an opening ceremony where Russian athletes were booed as they paraded with their national flag for the first time since 2014.

Despite Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) permitted six Russian athletes and four from Belarus to represent their countries with their national flags, rather than competing as neutrals.

This decision led to significant backlash, with Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland boycotting the ceremony at the historic Verona Arena.

IPC president Andrew Parsons defended the decision, referencing a vote by the organisation’s General Assembly last September which allowed Russia and Belarus to return under their flags for the first time since 2014.

With conflicts also occurring in the Middle East, this marks the third time in four editions that the Winter Paralympics have opened amidst a new conflict.

“Four years ago, I expressed horror at the world’s situation," Parsons said during the ceremony. “Sadly, the situation remains unchanged. While some countries are known by their leaders’ names, I prefer to recognize them by their athletes."

The ceremony, attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, began with a drumming performance by Stewart Copeland of The Police. After a simplified rendition of the Italian national anthem, the athletes’ parade commenced, flanked by volunteers.

Most countries had no more than two athletes in the parade, and videos of some delegation members who couldn’t attend due to early competition schedules were shown on stage.

The Russian delegation, consisting of four athletes, was booed by some spectators and volunteers.

The boycotting nations were represented by two volunteers carrying their flags, without any athletes or dignitaries present.

The Ukrainian flag was met with prolonged applause in the arena.

Giovanni Malago, president of the local organising committee, emphasized the importance of peace, inclusion, and solidarity in his speech, stating that these values are more significant than ever in the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

The Paralympics follow the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which concluded on February 22. With Russia competing under its flag and conflicts involving the US and Israel during the Olympic truce period, there is concern that the extraordinary achievements of over 600 athletes may be overshadowed on the 50th anniversary of the Paralympics.

The IPC announced earlier on Friday that Iran’s sole competitor, Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, had to withdraw due to the ongoing conflict.

“It is disheartening for global sport and especially for Aboulfazl that he cannot travel safely to compete in his third Paralympic Winter Games," Parsons said in a statement.

Athletes will compete in six sports across three sites in northern Italy until March 15. The Dolomite ski resort of Cortina will host wheelchair curling, para alpine skiing, and para snowboarding. Milan’s Santagiulia Arena will feature para ice hockey, while para biathlon and para cross-country skiing events will take place in Val di Fiemme.

One notable athlete is British para snowboarder Davy Zyw, the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease to compete in a Paralympics. Double Summer Paralympic gold medallist Lauren Parker will make her Winter Games debut for Australia in the biathlon and cross-country events.

El Salvador’s cross-country skier David Chavez will make history as the first person from the Central American country to participate in a Winter Games, either Olympics or Paralympics.

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