UK government announce Paralympic Games boycott as statement issued

The UK government will boycott the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony on Friday (March 6) in protest of the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the Games.

In the build-up to this month's event in Milano-Cortina, several countries confirmed they will boycott the opening ceremony in protest of the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags.

Russia and Belarus were banned from the 2022 Paralympics following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but they were permitted to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Summer Paralympics in 2024.

That ban will be lifted in the coming days, with athletes from Russia and Belarus set to compete under their national flag.

However, after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed it would allow six Russians and four athletes from Belarus to do so, some have protested against the decision.

Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, and Ukraine will not be involved in Friday's opening ceremony, according to Craig Spence, who works for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The unlit Paralympic Cauldron pictured ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. Image credit: Getty

The UK Government also confirmed on Thursday that no government ministers or officials will attend the opening or closing ceremonies of the Paralympics.

A statement read: “Russian and Belarusian states should not be represented in international sport while the barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. Therefore, no Government Ministers or officials will attend the Opening or Closing Ceremonies of the Paralympics.”

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that German athletes will not participate in the teams' parade at Friday's opening ceremony. The German Paralympic Committee said it wanted to express solidarity with Ukraine.

"We have decided that Team Germany Paralympics will not participate in the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony in Verona," a statement read. "This decision serves both to focus on the upcoming competitions and to respectfully express our solidarity with the Ukrainian delegation."

It added: "Paralympic athletes embody courage, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges. Especially in challenging times, it remains our shared responsibility to visibly embody the Paralympic values ​​and resolutely protect the integrity of the sport."