Key points
- Ukraine will not send state representatives to official events at the Paralympics-2026.
- The reason is the admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus to the competition under their national flags.
- The decision on diplomatic absence does not affect the participation of Ukrainian athletes in the competition.
Ukraine is refusing to take part at the level of state representatives in the official events of the Paralympic Games 2026. The decision follows the move to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, Ukrainian officials will not attend the opening ceremony or other official events of the Paralympics-2026.
The International Paralympic Committee confirmed that six athletes from Russia and four from Belarus will be allowed to compete in the Winter Games 2026 under their national symbols.
Ukraine will continue to uphold its principled position that representatives of aggressor states should not participate in international sporting events under national flags.
– Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine,
The decision on diplomatic non-attendance does not affect the participation of Ukrainian athletes in the competitions themselves.
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