The International Paralympic Committee has decided to revoke the partial suspension that affected Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine. The decision, taken to Seoul by the General Assembly of the IPC, will allow the athletes of the two countries to participate in the 2026 Milan-Cortina winter paralympics no longer as neutral, but under their respective national flags.
However, the individual international federations will establish who can actually compete, some of which still maintain the prohibition of admission for Russian and Belarusian sportsmen.
Kiev’s reaction was immediate and very hard. Ukrainian Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi called “a betrayal of consciousness and Olympic values” the vote expressed by the IPC assembly, reiterating the indignation of his country for a choice deemed unjust and dangerous on the symbolic and political level.