Before Thursday's opening ceremony at the Arena di Verona, the boycott coverage had settled on a handful of countries. Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Finland had each announced formally that they would not march. Our earlier breakdown named three of those countries and covered the IPC's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.

The ceremony revealed a different number.

When the parade of nations finished at the Arena di Verona, 28 of the 55 competing nations had not sent delegations into the opening march. That's more than half the field. It is the largest ceremony boycott in Paralympic history.

Who Stayed Out and Why

Ukraine led the protest. The Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee confirmed weeks ago that the team would not march. President Valerii Sushkevych was precise about the boundary: athletes compete, the ceremony is a separate matter. Some members of Ukraine's para team sustained their disabilities during the war that Russia is still waging. They're in Italy. They're racing. They weren't in the parade.

Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Finland had all pre-announced. When the parade began Thursday, they were joined by more nations that hadn't made formal pre-ceremony statements. The final count reached 28.

The moment that drew the most visible reaction: four Russian athletes in red uniforms, marching under the Russian national flag. Audible boos from the crowd. It was the first time the Russian flag had appeared at a Paralympics since Sochi 2014. The IPC had granted the Russian entries through a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling.

Iran Was a Different Story

Iran's single athlete, Aboulfazl Khatibi, was pulled from the Games hours before the ceremony. His absence wasn't a protest. He was withdrawn for safety reasons related to the Middle East conflict. One athlete pulled for safety, 27 nations on record against a specific IPC decision.

What the IPC Has Said

The IPC's position hasn't shifted: the Russian and Belarusian athletes entered through the standard process after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, and the IPC is treating them exactly as it treats athletes from any other nation. The framework is humanitarian neutrality, applied without exception.

The boycotting nations disagree with that framework. Their position is that Russian national symbols cannot be neutral while Russia is fighting an active war against Ukraine. That disagreement has been on the record since February. Neither side is moving.

The Competition Is Running

The opening parade happened, though only half the competing nations were in it. Nine days of competition start March 7, and every nation, including Ukraine and Russia, has athletes registered to race. Para alpine skiing, para biathlon, cross-country skiing, and wheelchair curling mixed doubles all run on Day 1. The Games continue through March 15 across venues in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Milan, and Verona.

The 28 nations that stayed off the route made a political statement. Their athletes are in Cortina and Milan to make a sporting one.