The official statement from the UK government confirmed that the country will not send its representatives to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, which will take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. This decision was a response to the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the international sports arena.
The reason for the boycott was the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which allowed six athletes from Russia and four from Belarus to compete under their national flags. This marked the first such case since 2014 at the Paralympics.
The diplomatic boycott was also joined by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. Official delegations from these countries will also refrain from participating in the ceremonial events.
The return to the use of national symbols of Russia and Belarus has provoked negative reactions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European governments, as well as international sports organizations. Critics argue that such participation could negatively impact the atmosphere of the upcoming Games.
