Sport against war: Russia and Belarus suspended from the 2026 Paralympics
24 October 10:33
The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games to be held in Italy will be held without the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus. This was reported on the official website of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Why athletes from Russia and Belarus were not allowed to participate in the 2026 Paralympics
In September 2025, the IPC General Assembly voted to restore full membership to the National Paralympic Committees of Russia and Belarus. This meant the return of their rights in the IPC structure.
This decision, in particular, means that para-athletes from both countries can participate in the Paralympic Games – provided they qualify in accordance with the rules of the respective international federations.
Who makes the decision on athletes’ participation?
Each International Sports Federation responsible for a particular sport in the Paralympic Games program determines
- the qualification system;
- participation of athletes in qualifying competitions;
- their compliance with the requirements.
Following the IPC General Assembly’s decision, the Committee received official confirmation from all four international federations representing the sports of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. According to this confirmation, in practice, athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be able to qualify for the March Games.
Decisions of international federations
Wheelchair curling: In January 2025, the World Wheelchair Curling Federation extended the suspension of Russia and Belarus until the end of the 2024-2025 season. This means that their teams cannot qualify for the Paralympics.
Para alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding: The Council of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) on October 21 voted against the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in qualifying events for the 2026 Paralympics.
Para-biathlon: The International Biathlon Union (IBU) confirmed that the federations of Belarus and Russia remain suspended in accordance with the decision of the IBU Congress of September 2022.
Para-hockey: Although Russia can formally participate in competitions after the IPC decision, the Para Hockey Federation has stated that the country has no possibility to qualify for the 2026 Games. Belarus does not have an internationally ranked ice hockey team.
What the International Paralympic Committee said
IPC President Andrew Parsons emphasized that the organization respects the autonomy of each sports federation:
“Just as the IPC fully respects the decision of the IPC General Assembly not to maintain the partial disqualification of the NPCs of Belarus and Russia, we also fully respect the decisions of each international federation regarding the sports they govern.”
This means that the final decision no longer depended on the IPC, but was made by the federations, taking into account sporting and political realities.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
What does this decision mean for Ukraine and world sport?
The Ukrainian team will have more chances to win medals in their disciplines, as Russia has traditionally had strong positions in winter sports.
This is an important geopolitical signal that countries that violate international law cannot use sports as a platform for legitimization.
When and where the Paralympic Games will be held
The Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from March 6 to 15.
The program includes 79 sets of medals in six sports.
The event will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympic Games, the first of which took place in 1976 in Östersundsvik, Sweden.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
