What started with one IPC announcement has become a cascade.

On February 17, the International Paralympic Committee confirmed that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes would compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics under their national flags, with national anthems and full uniforms. If you missed our breakdown of that decision, [we covered it in full here]. The short version: the IPC granted wild card entries after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, marking the first time the Russian flag has appeared at a Paralympics since Sochi 2014.

Since then, the responses have been arriving fast, and they're still coming.

Who Is Boycotting the Opening Ceremony

Ukraine was first. On February 20, the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine confirmed that the Ukrainian team would not march in the opening ceremony at Verona's Arena di Verona on March 6. The announcement came with a specific instruction: the Ukrainian flag should not be displayed at the opening ceremony. President Zelensky, speaking publicly about the IPC's original decision, called it "dirty."

Ukrainian NPC President Valerii Sushkevych was direct about the line he was drawing: the boycott applies to the ceremony, not the competition. "Such a step would play into the hands of Russian leader Vladimir Putin," he said, explaining why Ukrainian athletes will still race. Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha then instructed ambassadors worldwide to press their host governments to follow suit, unless the IPC reverses course.

Estonia announced alongside Ukraine. The Estonian Paralympic Committee confirmed its representatives will not attend any official ceremonies. Estonia's public broadcaster ERR went further and said it won't air any Paralympic competitions at all if Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under their national symbols.

Poland followed through its Ministry of Sport and Tourism. The ministry cited the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under national symbols as "unacceptable in the context of aggression against Ukraine."

The European Commission had already moved two days earlier. EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef announced on February 18 that he would not attend the ceremony. His statement: "While Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues, I cannot support the reinstatement of national symbols, flags, anthems, and uniforms, that are inseparable from that conflict."

What the Broadcast Boycott Means

Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster, confirmed it will not air the opening ceremony. ERR in Estonia said it won't cover competitions at all. That means citizens in two competing nations won't see the Games on their national networks in protest.

Two national broadcasters, choosing not to show their own athletes compete.

What This Means for the Athletes

Ukrainian athletes are still going to Milan. Some members of Ukraine's Paralympic team have disabilities they sustained during active combat, in a war still being fought against Russia. They looked at the start list, saw Russian athletes registered to compete in the same venues, and decided to show up anyway.

A ceremony boycott is a political statement. Competing in the same venue is a separate act entirely.

The same decision falls on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Ten of them were granted entries through CAS and the IPC's established process. The IPC has said they'll be treated like athletes from any other country. Whatever you think of that ruling, every athlete on every side of it is registered to race.

Where Things Stand

The IPC isn't changing course. The opening ceremony is March 6 at the Verona Arena, 13 days from now. Whether more countries or broadcasters join the boycott before then is still an open question.

The Games are happening. If you're watching with someone who has a disability, the athletes made their choice. They're going to Milan. The competition begins March 6.