Italy opposes Paralympics allowing Russia and Belarus to use flags, anthems

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by By ReutersFebruary 19, 2026 at 04:30 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Italy's government is opposing the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and anthems at the upcoming Paralympic Games. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi cited Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, as a violation of the Olympic spirit. Italy's government stated its "absolute opposition" to the IPC's ruling, echoing the stance of 33 other countries and the European Commission. Russia's embassy in Italy condemned Italy's stance, calling it offensive and unacceptable to target athletes with disabilities. Russia and Belarus were initially banned from Paralympic competitions after the 2022 invasion but regained full rights within the IPC last year.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

International Ski and Snowboard Federation 40% Court of Arbitration for Sport 50% European Commission 50% Andrea Abodi 70% Ukraine ×270% Antonio Tajani 70% International Paralympic Committee ×280% Belarus ×480% Italy ×390% Russia ×690%

Keywords

paralympics 100% russia 90% belarus 80% international paralympic committee 70% ukraine invasion 70% italy 60% neutral athletes 50% olympic spirit 50% sports 40%