Russian and Belarusian Athletes to March Under National Flags at Milan‑Cortina 2026 Paralympics

Updated 2026-02-17 22:06:32+00:00 (10 articles)

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IPC lifts blanket ban, permits national‑flag participation for ten athletes The International Paralympic Committee removed its September ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors and approved the use of each nation’s flag and anthem, marking the first appearance of the Russian flag at a Paralympic event since the 2014 Sochi Games. Six Russian athletes (two each in alpine skiing, cross‑country skiing, and two male snowboarders) and four Belarusians (all in cross‑country skiing) received bipartite commission invitations for the March 6‑15, 2026 Games [1][2].

CAS decision overturns ski‑snowboard federation’s blanket exclusion In December, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian participants was unlawful, allowing those athletes to compete and earn ranking points in para‑alpine skiing, para‑cross‑country skiing, and para‑snowboarding [1][2]. The ruling cleared the path for the flag‑bearing entries approved by the IPC and restored eligibility for the sport‑specific federations that had maintained bans.

Veteran Russian Paralympians named to fill allocated slots Alpine skier Aleksey Bugaev, cross‑country skiers Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian were confirmed among the six Russian slots; Bugaev is a three‑time Paralympic champion and the others have recently captured World Cup titles and World Championship medals [1][2]. Their inclusion underscores the high competitive level of the Russian contingent returning to the Paralympic stage after a twelve‑year hiatus.

Political backlash and IOC review continue amid flag decision UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy condemned the IPC’s flag approval as “the wrong decision,” arguing it sends a harmful message while the invasion persists [2]. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee’s suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee remains under legal review, with a possible lift pending further assessment [1].

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Timeline

2014 – Russia’s flag flies for the last time at a Paralympic Games in Sochi, marking the end of an era of unrestricted Russian participation before the 2022 invasion triggers sanctions [1].

2022 – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompts the International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee to suspend Russian and Belarusian athletes, initiating a series of bans across winter sports [1][2].

Oct 2023 – The IOC suspends the Russian Olympic Committee, stripping it of delegation rights and funding, a move that underpins the 2026 exclusion of Russian and Belarusian national teams [2].

2024 – At the Paris Summer Games, Russia and Belarus compete only as neutral athletes, reinforcing the IOC’s policy of barring national symbols for the two nations [2].

Dec 2, 2025 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s blanket ban, allowing Russian athletes to apply for neutral status in Milan‑Cortina qualification events [7].

Dec 12, 2025 – About six Russian lugers obtain U.S. visas and travel to Lake Placid for a World Cup race as neutral competitors, the first such appearance since 2022, sparking criticism from Ukrainian slider Anton Dukach [6].

Jan 9, 2026 – Russian athletes enter the Milan‑Cortina Games as “Individual Neutral Athletes” with no flag or anthem; ski‑mountaineer Nikita Filippov says, “Competing without the flag sharpens my edge – Russians can beat anyone,” underscoring a resolve to succeed despite restrictions [5].

Jan 16, 2026 – The government‑run Sports Ski Base in Chernihiv trains roughly 350 Ukrainian youths amid drone attacks, while biathlete Khrystyna Dmytrenko prepares to represent Ukraine at Milan‑Cortina; a small contingent of Russian biathletes may also compete under IOC vetting [4].

Feb 1, 2026 – World Taekwondo lifts its ban, permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags after an extraordinary council meeting on Jan 31; the federation retains bans on Russia hosting events [10].

Feb 4, 2026 – The IOC bars Russia and Belarus from competing under national symbols at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics, allowing only individually vetted neutral athletes and citing the 2023 ROC suspension and historic precedents of political exclusions [2].

Feb 5, 2026 – Thirteen Russian and seven Belarusian athletes accept invitations to compete as neutrals at Milan‑Cortina, undergoing a two‑step review that excludes anyone who supported the Ukraine invasion or has military ties [8][9].

Feb 6‑22, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics open on Feb 6 in Milan’s San Siro and run through Feb 22, featuring athletes from the approved neutral rosters [2][8].

Feb 17, 2026 – The IPC confirms six Russians and four Belarusians will compete under their own flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, the first flag appearance since Sochi 2014, and allocates bipartite commission slots to top Paralympians Aleksey Bugaev, Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian [1][3].

Feb 17, 2026 – UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy condemns the IPC’s flag decision as “completely the wrong decision,” warning it sends a terrible message while the invasion continues and urging an urgent reconsideration [1].

Mar 6‑15, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina Winter Paralympics take place, featuring the newly invited Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under national symbols and the anthem playing for any gold‑medal winners [3].