Seven countries to boycott Paralympics ceremony over flag-flying Russians

March 5, 2026

TL;DR

Seven countries and the British government will boycott the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony.
The boycott is in protest of Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete under their own flags.
The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine are among the boycotting nations.
The UK government reiterated its opposition to the Russian and Belarusian states being represented in international sport.
IPC President Andrew Parsons defended the decision, citing democratic votes by member organizations.
The IPC is monitoring the situation in the Middle East for potential impacts on participation.
This year's Winter Paralympics will be the largest in history, with approximately 612 athletes from 56 countries competing.

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