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France confirmed that the nation will not send representatives for the ceremony after the board’s decision to permit Russian, Belarussian athletes under their own banner
Marina Ferrari. (X)
France’s sports minister announced on Wednesday that the country will not send any government representatives to the Milan-Cortina Paralympics opening ceremony in protest of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) stated last month that six Russians and four Belarusians would be allowed to participate in the Games, scheduled for March 6-15, under their national flags rather than as neutral athletes.
Russia and Belarus were banned from the 2022 Paralympics following the invasion of Ukraine, although they were permitted to compete as neutral athletes in the Paris Summer Paralympics two years later.
Following the IPC’s announcement, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, Estonia, and Latvia declared they would boycott the opening ceremony.
French government representatives will now join in this boycott at Friday’s opening ceremony.
“This is a decision that we have thought long and hard about, and one that is intended to be respectful of sporting institutions, the IPC and the decision that has been taken, but it is a disagreement that we are expressing with regard to the position that has been adopted,” French sports minister Marina Ferrari told reporters.
She added that the decision also applies “at this stage” to the closing ceremony, which will be held on March 15.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
March 05, 2026, 09:34 IST
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