The only Paralympic athlete from Iran withdraws from the Milan-Cortina Games due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Abulfazl Khatibi Mianaei,
23 years old, the only Paralympic athlete from Iran, was forced to withdraw from the competition at the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina due to the conflict in the Middle East. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that the athlete, who was set to compete in two cross-country skiing events, cannot travel safely to Italy due to the unstable security situation. IPC President Andrew Parsons expressed disappointment over Khatibi Mianaei's absence, highlighting the efforts made to find alternative routes for the Iranian delegation. The conflict has led to an escalation of violence in the region, and the athlete's absence will mean that the Iranian flag will not be present at the opening ceremony. The number of participating nations has decreased from 56 to 55 due to these circumstances.