Russia and Belarus Paraded Under National Flags as Milan-Cortina Paralympics Open amid Boycotts
Athletes from Russia and Belarus entered the Arena di Verona under their countries' flags as the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics officially began.
Their appearance marks the first time competitors from those nations have marched with national banners at a Paralympics since bans were imposed after 2022.
The return of the Russian flag is especially notable: it has not been displayed at the Paralympics since Sochi 2014, a period that included fallout from a state-led doping scandal and later sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine. The decision to allow six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to take part has sparked protests.
Seven delegations, including Ukraine, chose to skip the Verona opening in protest.
Nevertheless, Ukraine’s flag — carried into the arena by a volunteer — drew one of the biggest ovations of the night despite the absence of its team. International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons urged the audience to focus on inclusion and the athletes themselves, saying the Games should celebrate competitors rather than politics and act as a unifying model at a fractious moment for the world.
Organisers also faced a security-related withdrawal.
Iran pulled out after its only athlete, cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, was unable to travel safely amid recent regional hostilities. The announcement followed a wave of strikes and counterstrikes across the Middle East in late February and early March.
Giovanni Malagò, head of the Milan-Cortina organising committee, acknowledged the tense global backdrop and stressed that the Paralympic message of solidarity and peace felt especially urgent this year.
The ceremony took place inside the UNESCO-listed Arena di Verona — an ancient amphitheatre chosen for its spectacle, even though no competitions are being held in the city. Over 660 athletes from 56 countries will compete across six sports through 15 March.
Only 28 of the 55 competing nations had athletes marching in person.
Teams who did not attend but were not boycotting were shown via recorded segments, accompanied by music from Italian house act Meduza. Great Britain’s 25-strong team was largely absent from the parade for logistical reasons, with many athletes already competing in the Dolomites.
The pageant nodded to Verona’s romantic associations and ended with two Paralympic cauldrons being lit simultaneously in Milan and Cortina.
Organisers and officials said the coming days will be about athletes redefining expectations and showcasing how sport can challenge perceptions about disability.
Their appearance marks the first time competitors from those nations have marched with national banners at a Paralympics since bans were imposed after 2022.
The return of the Russian flag is especially notable: it has not been displayed at the Paralympics since Sochi 2014, a period that included fallout from a state-led doping scandal and later sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine. The decision to allow six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to take part has sparked protests.
Seven delegations, including Ukraine, chose to skip the Verona opening in protest.
Nevertheless, Ukraine’s flag — carried into the arena by a volunteer — drew one of the biggest ovations of the night despite the absence of its team. International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons urged the audience to focus on inclusion and the athletes themselves, saying the Games should celebrate competitors rather than politics and act as a unifying model at a fractious moment for the world.
Organisers also faced a security-related withdrawal.
Iran pulled out after its only athlete, cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, was unable to travel safely amid recent regional hostilities. The announcement followed a wave of strikes and counterstrikes across the Middle East in late February and early March.
Giovanni Malagò, head of the Milan-Cortina organising committee, acknowledged the tense global backdrop and stressed that the Paralympic message of solidarity and peace felt especially urgent this year.
The ceremony took place inside the UNESCO-listed Arena di Verona — an ancient amphitheatre chosen for its spectacle, even though no competitions are being held in the city. Over 660 athletes from 56 countries will compete across six sports through 15 March.
Only 28 of the 55 competing nations had athletes marching in person.
Teams who did not attend but were not boycotting were shown via recorded segments, accompanied by music from Italian house act Meduza. Great Britain’s 25-strong team was largely absent from the parade for logistical reasons, with many athletes already competing in the Dolomites.
The pageant nodded to Verona’s romantic associations and ended with two Paralympic cauldrons being lit simultaneously in Milan and Cortina.
Organisers and officials said the coming days will be about athletes redefining expectations and showcasing how sport can challenge perceptions about disability.
