Public Broadcaster Boycotts Paralympics Opening Ceremony Due to Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Public Broadcaster has announced its decision not to broadcast the opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games due to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. This was in response to the invitation of representatives from the aggressor states.
In its official statement, Public Broadcaster expressed support for the Ukrainian national Paralympic team’s decision to boycott the opening ceremony of the Games due to the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus. The statement mentioned that the presence of representatives from states conducting full-scale war in Europe at the Paralympic Games is unacceptable.
It should be noted that earlier the International Olympic Committee disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for his intention to compete with a “helmet of memory” at the 2026 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2026 Games under their national flags.
Since April, the issue of allowing the flags of Russia and Belarus to be raised at the Paralympics has arisen, despite the ongoing war. The Minister of Sports of Ukraine announced that Ukrainian officials will not be present at the Games as a sign of protest against this decision.
Despite this, Public Broadcaster will remain the official broadcaster of the performances of Ukrainian Paralympians, which will take place from March 6 to 15. It has also been reported that Russian and Belarusian athletes who win gold medals will have the opportunity to hear their national anthems at the award ceremonies.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 6-15 | Competitions of Ukrainian Paralympians |
| February 18 | Announcement of Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes |
