Russian athletes are set to compete under their own national flag at the Paralympic Games for the first time in more than a decade, marking a significant milestone in international sports. The country's national anthem will also be played for any gold medalists, restoring full national identity in Olympic circles well ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Historic Announcement and Slot Allocations
In a statement released on Tuesday, the International Paralympic Committee confirmed that Russia's National Paralympic Committee has been awarded six slots for the upcoming Milan Cortina Paralympic Games. This allocation includes two slots in Para alpine skiing, two in Para cross-country skiing, and two in Para snowboard. The announcement represents a pivotal shift, as it will be the first time a Russian flag has been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.
Background of Bans and Sanctions
The return follows a complex history of sanctions. Russian athletes were initially banned due to a state-sponsored doping program, and further restrictions were imposed after the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia's close ally, Belarus, has also faced bans since 2022 but will have four slots at the Milan Cortina Games, all in cross-country skiing. Should a Russian Paralympic athlete win gold, it will be the first time the Russian anthem has been heard at a major global sporting event since the invasion.
Path to Reinstatement
The IPC voted to lift partial suspensions of Russia and Belarus in September, but IPC President Andrew Parsons noted in November that no athletes from those countries would participate in Milan Cortina due to ongoing bans by sports governing bodies. However, an appeal from Russia led the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a blanket ban by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation in December. This decision paved the way for Russian athletes to compete as neutral athletes at the 2026 Olympics and with their own flag and anthem at the Paralympics.
Current Olympic Context and Future Prospects
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 decision is under legal review and could be overturned within months. Currently, Russian athletes are competing at the Olympics as individual neutral athletes, without their flag, anthem, or team colors, following a system used in Paris in 2024.
Notable Athletes and Competition Details
Russian media reports highlight that Aleksey Bugaev, a three-time Paralympic champion in Alpine skiing, is among the athletes granted slots, along with cross-country skiers Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian, both world championship medalists. All three returned to competition last month, with Bugaev and Bagiian securing World Cup titles since then. The Milan Cortina Paralympics is scheduled to take place from March 6 to 15, 2026, setting the stage for this historic return.
