Russia is back on the international sporting stage at the 2026 Paralympics (Image: Marco Mantovani/ Getty Images)Removing the ban was a decision that was difficult to understand. "When the Russian flag is raised on the international stage, it becomes part of Russia's propaganda machine. "It is deeply outrageous that officials of the International Paralympic Committee refuse to understand this." Or perhaps the re-admittance of Russia and Belarus onto the international sporting stage is nothing more than a concession that actually, sporting bans mean little. Yes, sport is important but it also has very little impact on things when it comes to wider political issues.

Source: The Herald March 15, 2026 18:23 UTC