Ukraine urges boycott of 2026 Paralympics opening ceremony if Russian and Belarusian flags are raised

Ukraine has said it will call on other countries to boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Games if Russian and Belarusian flags are raised.

Source: a statement by Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, on X (Twitter)

Details: Andrii Sybiha said it is unacceptable for "the flags of aggressor states" to be raised while Russia's war against Ukraine continues.

Quote: "Allowing the flags of aggressor states to be raised at the Paralympic Games while Russia's war against Ukraine rages on is wrong – morally and politically.

The decision to admit Russia and Belarus under national symbols ignores a simple truth: these flags and anthems represent regimes that wage aggression, destroy cities, and weaponise sport for propaganda. They cannot be separated from the crimes committed under them."

More details: Sybiha said modern Russia is using Paralympic sport to glorify those fighting in the war against Ukraine. He warned that allowing Russian and Belarusian flags at the opening ceremony would send out a dangerous message by pushing accountability for crimes into the background.

Sybiha stressed sport should uphold the universal human values that such criminal regimes disregard, adding that the Paralympics must not become a stage for justifying Russia's actions.

Ukraine will therefore be urging other countries to boycott the Paralympics opening ceremony, Sybiha said.

Quote: "I have instructed Ukraine's ambassadors to engage with officials in their host countries and urge them not to attend the Opening Ceremony if this disgraceful decision is not reversed.

Ukraine will continue to defend justice and dignity, as well as to protect the integrity of international sport from being exploited by aggressor states."

Background:

• Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes have been granted permission to compete under their national flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy. This will be the first time the Russian flag has been raised at the Paralympics since the 2014 Sochi Games.
• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has reacted robustly to the fact that a Russian citizen carried the placard for the Ukrainian team at the 2026 Olympics opening ceremony. The ministry has called on the International Olympic Committee to conduct an internal investigation into the incident.

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