Russian Flag and Anthem Set for Paralympic Return After Decade-Long Absence
In a significant development for international sports, Russian athletes are poised to compete under their own national flag at the upcoming Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade. The country's national anthem will also be played for any gold medalists, marking a full restoration of Russian national identity in Olympic circles well ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
IPC Announces Slot Allocations for Milan Cortina Games
The International Paralympic Committee confirmed in a statement that Russia's National Paralympic Committee has been awarded six slots for the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games, scheduled from March 6-15. This allocation includes two slots in Para alpine skiing, two in Para cross-country skiing, and two in Para snowboard. Additionally, Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has been granted four slots in cross-country skiing despite its ongoing ban since 2022.
This announcement represents a major shift, as it will be the first time a Russian flag has been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 Games in Sochi. The initial ban was imposed due to a state-sponsored doping program, with sanctions further extended following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Should a Russian Paralympic athlete secure gold, it will mark the first instance of the Russian anthem being played at a major global sporting event since the invasion.
Path to Reinstatement and Legal Developments
The IPC voted to lift partial suspensions of Russia and Belarus in September, though IPC President Andrew Parsons initially indicated in November that no athletes from these countries would participate in Milan Cortina due to maintained bans by sports governing bodies. However, a subsequent appeal by Russia led the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a blanket ban imposed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation in December.
This legal decision paved the way for Russian athletes to compete as neutral participants at the 2026 Olympics, while allowing them to use their own flag and anthem at the Paralympics. Meanwhile, the Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended by the International Olympic Committee since 2023 for violating the Olympic charter by incorporating regional sports bodies in occupied eastern Ukraine. This suspension is currently under legal review and could be overturned within months.
Athlete Participation and Competitive Outlook
Russian media reports highlight that notable athletes such as Aleksey Bugaev, a three-time Paralympic champion in Alpine skiing, along with cross-country skiers Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian, have been allocated slots for the Games. Both Bugaev and Bagiian have recently won World Cup titles, demonstrating their competitive form upon returning to competition last month.
This reinstatement contrasts with the current Olympic framework, where Russian athletes are competing as individual neutral athletes without their flag, anthem, or team colors, following a system used in Paris in 2024. The return of Russian symbolism at the Paralympics underscores ongoing diplomatic and sporting negotiations, with implications for future international events.
