Six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes will be able to participate under their flags at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan Cortina, the International Paralympic Committee announced on Tuesday, a decision that the French Paralympic and Sports Committee expressed regret about on Wednesday, but which does not change the ambitions of the French team according to the French instance.
“The French Paralympic and Sports Committee takes note of the participation of six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes in these Games. The international situation has remained unchanged since 2023, as has the position of the CPSF. The CPSF regrets that the IPC’s proposal to extend the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians was not more widely shared during the vote at the general assembly,” said the CPSF in a statement sent to our editorial office.
“The priority remains the support of athletes and the defense of the values of the Paralympic movement”
“However, this situation does not change the ambitions of the French team. In para cross-country skiing and para snowboarding, no French athletes are competing in the relevant categories. For para alpine skiing, the athletes are entering these Games in great shape after a remarkable season. Today, the priority remains the support of athletes and the defense of the values of the Paralympic movement,” concluded the instance led by Marie-Amélie Le Fur.
Russia will therefore “have two representatives in para alpine skiing (1 man, 1 woman), two in para cross-country skiing (1 man, 1 woman), and two in para snowboarding (two men),” according to the international committee. Belarus “has been allocated four places in total, all in para cross-country skiing (1 man and 3 women).”
The Russian Paralympic Committee indicated to local media that in para alpine skiing, Alexey Bugaev, a triple Paralympic champion, and Varvara Voronchikhina, a double world champion, will participate. In cross-country skiing, it will be Ivan Golubkov and Anastasia Bagiyan, and in para snowboarding, Dmitry Fadeev and Philippe Shebbo Monzer.
Ukraine denounces a “disappointing and scandalous decision”
This decision by the IPC represents “an escalation of loyalty towards representatives of a murderous state,” said Valeriy Sushkevych, president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, who described himself as “outraged.” However, he refuses a boycott, which would allow Vladimir Putin to “claim a victory over Ukrainian Paralympians,” according to him. “The decision is both disappointing and scandalous,” denounced Ukrainian Minister of Sports Matviy Bidny on X Wednesday, stating that “the flags of Russia and Belarus have no place in international sporting events that promote fairness, integrity, and respect.
