Italy Urges IPC to Reverse Decision on Russian and Belarusian Flags at Paralympics
The Italian government has issued a strong rebuke to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) over its controversial ruling to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and with anthems at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi have declared the move "incompatible with the spirit of the Games" in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Formal Request for Reconsideration
In a statement released late on Wednesday, Rome formally requested the IPC to "reconsider this decision," arguing that the prolonged violations of ceasefire agreements by Russia, supported by Belarus, are at odds with participation except as neutral individual competitors. Italy has aligned itself with 33 other nations and the European Commission in expressing deep concerns over the reinstatement of full national symbols for these athletes.
Background and Athlete Clearance
It was announced earlier this week that a combined total of ten para-athletes—six from Russia and four from Belarus—have been cleared to compete at the Games, which are scheduled to take place in Italy from 6 to 15 March. This decision follows the IPC General Assembly's vote in September 2025 to lift partial suspensions, restoring full membership rights to both nations after they were initially banned following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Contrast with Winter Games and Legal Appeals
This situation stands in stark contrast to the ongoing Winter Games, where a limited number of Russian and Belarusian athletes are competing as independent neutral athletes, without national flags or anthems, due to continued sanctions by the International Olympic Committee. Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus successfully appealed against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December, despite international federations for individual sports maintaining bans on athletes from these countries.
The Italian government has emphasized its categorical disagreement with the IPC's ruling, highlighting the broader geopolitical tensions and the need to uphold Paralympic ideals during these challenging times.
