Russian athletes can compete with the flag and national anthem at the 2026 Paralympic Games. Three countries are boycotting the opening ceremony, and Italy is calling for a review of the decision.

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete with their flag and national anthem at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, following a decision by the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), announced the president of the body, Andrew Parsons, according to Reuters. The decision has sparked controversy amid the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine, and the allocation of 10 spots for Russian and Belarusian athletes has amplified international tensions.

Ukraine has announced that it will boycott the opening ceremony scheduled in Verona, while the Czech Republic and Poland have adopted similar positions, as the Italian government calls on the IPC to reconsider its decision. Russia and Belarus, excluded in 2022 and later accepted under a neutral flag at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, are now granted the right to compete under their national symbols, a decision criticized by several European states, including the United Kingdom.