Russian athletes march at Paralympic opening ceremony

Athletes from Russia and Belarus marched behind their nations' flags at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics as the 50th anniversary edition of the Games officially got under way.

The furore surrounding the inclusion of six Russians and four Belarusians at these Games has dominated the build-up, with teams from seven nations - including Ukraine - opting to boycott the ceremony in Verona in protest.

These Games mark the first time that athletes from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to compete under their nations' flags at a Paralympics since bans were imposed following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Russian flag has not been flown at a Paralympic Games since Sochi 2014, firstly because of the country's state-sponsored doping scandal, before the Ukraine war led to further sanctions.

Despite the Ukrainian delegation not being in attendance at Friday's ceremony, they received one of the loudest cheers of the night as the country's flag was carried into the arena by a volunteer.

"These Paralympic Winter Games will honour our past, celebrate our present, and shape a more inclusive future, and we need a future now more than ever before," said Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee.

"Four years ago I said I was horrified at what was happening in the world. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved.

"In a world where some countries are better known by the names of their leaders, I prefer to know the countries by the name of their athletes.

"Sport offers the world another way forward, another perspective. These Paralympic Games offer something truly different. Here, differences are not reason for separation but sources of strength; here, nations gather as neighbours, and athletes compete with ferocity and fairness, but united in respect for one another and for the rules of the sport."

Earlier on Friday, it was announced Iran would no longer compete in the Games because its sole athlete, cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, could not travel safely to Italy because of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

On Saturday, 28 February, joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran targeted the country's missile infrastructure, military sites and leadership. Tehran, in response, has launched strikes across the Middle East region, including on Israel.

Giovanni Malago, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organising committee, said: "We cannot ignore that these Games take place in a deeply divided world, torn apart by wars, grief and suffering at one of the most dramatic turning points of our time.

"For this very reason, the message of peace, inclusion and solidarity at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic movements is more meaningful and more important than ever."

The opening ceremony took place at the Arena di Verona, a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre and Unesco world heritage site, despite no competitions taking place in the city.

More than 660 athletes from 56 countries will feature in six sports at the Games, which run until 15 March, with Great Britain sending a 25-strong team to compete.

No GB athletes were present at Friday's ceremony, because of logistical reasons rather than political, with many of the team in competitive action across the Dolomites on Saturday morning.

In total, only 28 of the 55 nations competing at Milan-Cortina had athletes marching in person during the parade.

For those who were not there, and were not protesting, pre-recorded videos of the flagbearers and their team-mates were played, accompanied by a loud music soundtrack from Italian house artists Meduza.

The ceremony featured a nod to Verona's reputation as the City of Love, thanks to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet being set in the city, and culminated with the simultaneous lighting of two Paralympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina.

"Paralympians are ready to redefine possibility, push the boundaries of human ability and show what humans can achieve when respected and provided with chances to succeed," said Parsons.

"In the coming days, a record number of athletes and nations will showcase the very best of Paralympic winter sport. Through their exceptional sporting performances, Paralympians will remind the world that disability is not itself a limitation, but an incredible dimension of human diversity.

"Paralympic performances will transform attitudes and inspire people everywhere - those in the venues or watching at home, those dreaming of their own future, and those yet to discover the power of sport."