Ukraine is boycotting the Paralympic closing ceremony because of the Russians
15 March 12:14
The Ukrainian national team has decided to boycott the Paralympic closing ceremony due to the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus, reports [Komersant], citing the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine.
As the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine told Suspilne Sport, this decision is a principled protest against the policy of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The main reason for the Ukrainian delegation’s protest was the IPC’s decision to allow representatives from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags.
The Ukrainian side considers this move unacceptable, as it legitimizes the symbols of aggressor countries in the international sports arena in the midst of a full-scale war.
The closing ceremony of the Winter Games will take place today, Sunday, March 15, at 9:30 p.m. Kyiv time.
Despite boycotting the official events, Ukrainian Paralympians continued to compete for medals throughout the tournament, demonstrating unbreakable spirit and high athletic skill.
It is worth recalling that Ukraine also boycotted the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympics with its entire delegation.
At that time, representatives from more than ten other countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Estonia, joined the Ukrainian initiative, expressing solidarity with Kyiv’s position and condemning the return of Russian symbols.
The position of Ukrainian officials remains unwavering: sport cannot be separate from politics when one state is committing genocide against another.
“The Ukrainian Paralympic community is outraged by the IPC’s cynical decision,” the committee emphasized, calling on the international community not to use the Ukrainian flag at events where the aggressor’s symbols are present.
As a reminder, six Russian athletes are participating in the competition, competing under their national symbols.
