Russian and Belarusian Athletes March at Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics
The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games mark the first occasion since Sochi 2014 that the Russian flag has been flown at a Paralympic event.
Athletes representing Russia and Belarus entered the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics carrying their national flags as the 50th edition of the Games officially commenced.
The participation of six Russian and four Belarusian athletes has been a focal point of controversy leading up to the Games, with delegations from seven countries, including Ukraine, choosing to boycott the ceremony held in Verona as a form of protest.
These Games represent the first time since sanctions were imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that athletes from Russia and Belarus have been permitted to compete under their own national flags at the Paralympics.
The Russian flag had not been displayed at a Paralympic Games since Sochi 2014, initially due to the country's state-sponsored doping scandal and subsequently because of sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.
Although the Ukrainian delegation did not attend Friday's ceremony, the Ukrainian flag was carried into the arena by a volunteer and received one of the most enthusiastic ovations of the evening.
"These Paralympic Winter Games will honour our past, celebrate our present, and shape a more inclusive future, and we need a future now more than ever before," said Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee.
"Four years ago I said I was horrified at what was happening in the world. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved.
"In a world where some countries are better known by the names of their leaders, I prefer to know the countries by the name of their athletes.
"Sport offers the world another way forward, another perspective. These Paralympic Games offer something truly different. Here, differences are not reason for separation but sources of strength; here, nations gather as neighbours, and athletes compete with ferocity and fairness, but united in respect for one another and for the rules of the sport."
Iran Withdraws Due to Safety Concerns
Earlier on the day of the ceremony, it was announced that Iran would not participate in the Games because its sole athlete, cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, was unable to travel safely to Italy amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
On 28 February, joint US-Israeli military operations targeted Iranian missile infrastructure, military sites, and leadership. In retaliation, Tehran has launched strikes across the Middle East, including attacks on Israel.
Organisers Address Global Divisions
Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organising committee, acknowledged the challenging global context in which the Games are taking place.
"We cannot ignore that these Games take place in a deeply divided world, torn apart by wars, grief and suffering at one of the most dramatic turning points of our time.
"For this very reason, the message of peace, inclusion and solidarity at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic movements is more meaningful and more important than ever."
Belarus was the seventh nation to enter the Arena di Verona during the parade.
Details of the Opening Ceremony and Participation
The opening ceremony was held at the Arena di Verona, a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre and UNESCO World Heritage site, despite no competitions being scheduled in the city itself.
More than 660 athletes from 56 countries are competing across six sports at the Games, which will continue until 15 March. Great Britain has sent a team of 25 athletes.
No British athletes were present at Friday's ceremony due to logistical reasons rather than political ones, as many were competing in events across the Dolomites on Saturday morning.
In total, only 28 of the 55 nations participating in Milan-Cortina had athletes marching in person during the parade.
For those countries whose athletes were not physically present and were not boycotting, pre-recorded videos of flagbearers and team members were shown, accompanied by a soundtrack featuring Italian house music artists Meduza.
The ceremony included a tribute to Verona's designation as the City of Love, inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which is set in the city. The event concluded with the simultaneous lighting of two Paralympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina.
"Paralympians are ready to redefine possibility, push the boundaries of human ability and show what humans can achieve when respected and provided with chances to succeed," Parsons said.
"In the coming days, a record number of athletes and nations will showcase the very best of Paralympic winter sport. Through their exceptional sporting performances, Paralympians will remind the world that disability is not itself a limitation, but an incredible dimension of human diversity.
"Paralympic performances will transform attitudes and inspire people everywhere - those in the venues or watching at home, those dreaming of their own future, and those yet to discover the power of sport."
