Poland has officially announced a boycott of the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Verona. The decision is a response to allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under a neutral flag. The Polish Ministry of Sport and the Paralympic Committee are expressing solidarity with Ukraine in this way. The diplomatic gesture by the Polish side has provoked aggressive reactions from the Kremlin, while France has decided to participate in the ceremonies.

Poland boycotts the ceremony

The Polish Paralympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport have officially refused to participate in the opening of the Games in Verona.

France will not join the boycott

Despite protests from Poland and Ukraine, Paris has confirmed the presence of its delegation at the opening ceremony.

Aggressive reaction from Moscow

Russian officials called Polish actions "inhumane" and responded with a series of diplomatic insults.

A diplomatic conflict is escalating around the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The central point of the dispute has become the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes, whom the International Paralympic Committee has allowed to compete under a neutral status. Poland, in cooperation with Ukraine, has made a firm decision to boycott the opening ceremony, which will take place at the famous Arena di Verona. The Polish Minister of Sport and representatives of the Polish Paralympic Committee emphasize that this is an expression of "sincere and unwavering solidarity" with the Ukrainian nation. This decision was met with enthusiasm in Kyiv but provoked fury in Moscow. The reaction from the Russian side was exceptionally brutal in diplomatic terms. Kremlin representatives, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, used offensive language towards Polish decision-makers. In the Russian media space, calls appeared for Poles to "sit in their holes," and Zakharova sarcastically remarked that thanks to the boycott, "the air will be a bit cleaner." Such rhetoric is a typical tool of Russian disinformation and propaganda, aimed at discrediting countries opposing Vladimir Putin's policy. Despite pressure from Warsaw and Kyiv, not all European countries have decided to take a similar step. France, the host of the 2024 Summer Games, has officially confirmed that it does not intend to boycott the opening ceremony, which in Poland was perceived as a sign of a rift in European unity. The institution of a sports boycott as a political tool dates back to at least 1980, when Western countries ignored the Olympic Games in Moscow in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In the shadow of diplomatic skirmishes, intensive preparations for the competitions themselves are ongoing. The 2026 Games will host athletes in six disciplines at venues scattered across northern Italy. For Polish Paralympians, the situation is difficult as they must combine sports preparations with a tense political atmosphere. Meanwhile, in France, questions are arising about the organizational capabilities for subsequent major events, including the 2030 Winter Games in the Alps. Concurrently, in Polish sports media, a discussion is underway on whether other sports powers, following France's example, will also break from the common boycott front, which could weaken the negotiating position of countries supporting Ukraine. „Воздух будет чище.” — Maria Zakharova

Mentioned People

  • Maria Zacharowa — Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known for her sharp rhetoric towards Poland.
  • Władimir Putin — President of Russia, whose policy of aggression against Ukraine has become the reason for the country's sporting isolation.