Paralympics open as Russian athletes booedAFP, VERONA and CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ItalyThe Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics started on Friday with an opening ceremony marked by Russian athletes being booed as they paraded behind their national flag for the first time since 2014. Despite Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allowed six Russian athletes and four from their allies Belarus to represent their countries, accompanied by their national flags, rather than competing as neutrals. The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics opening ceremony commences in Verona, Italy, on Friday. The Russian delegation of four athletes was booed by sections of the spectators, as well as some volunteers in the arena. The boycotting nations were represented by two volunteers carrying the countries’ flags, but no athletes or dignitaries paraded with them.

Source: Taipei Times March 07, 2026 17:13 UTC