Poland and Ukraine Boycott Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony

The decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to restore full competitive rights to ten athletes from Russia and Belarus has caused a diplomatic scandal less than a month before the start of the competition. IPC has permitted six Russians and four Belarusians to compete under their national colors, which includes the use of flags and the playing of national anthems. The Polish reaction was immediate and firm. The Ministry of Sport and Tourism together with the Polish Paralympic Committee announced that their representatives will not attend the official opening ceremony scheduled for March 6. The President of the Polish Paralympic Committee, Łukasz Szeliga, emphasized that allowing the aggressors to celebrate state symbols is an unacceptable situation. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, most sports federations have applied sanctions in the form of exclusion or a requirement to compete under a neutral flag, referencing the historic tradition of the Olympic Truce. Voices of protest are also coming from Rome. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi expressed deep regret over the committee's decision. The Italians point out that the Olympic Truce was broken by the Kremlin already in 2022, and the current concessions insult the victims of the conflict. „We are deeply disappointed with the IPC's choice. Athletes risk being victims in this matter, but we want to maintain the highest ethical standards of the competition.” — Andrea Abodi The situation was exacerbated by an incident at the Winter Olympic Games, where during the opening ceremony, a volunteer who was a Russian citizen marched ahead of the Ukrainian delegation, which Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a provocation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also condemned the IPC's decision, calling it a legitimization of violence. Russian diplomacy rejects these accusations, calling the stance of Italy and Poland "cruelty" and a violation of the Olympic Charter. Number of athletes permitted under national flags: Russia: 6, Belarus: 4 10 — athletes from aggressor countries permitted to compete Both Poland and Ukraine have announced that their athletes will compete in the events, so as not to waste years of preparation, but the boycott applies to all protocol-related and symbolic events. Liberal media in Poland and the West emphasize the moral dimension of the boycott and solidarity with Ukraine as the only correct stance of the free world. | Conservative and government-aligned media stress the necessity of a firm defense of national dignity and the uncompromising exclusion of Russia from public space.