Representatives of the Estonian Paralympic Committee and the Ministry of Culture will not participate in the official ceremonies of the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina due to the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags and symbols.
Source: Gazeta.UA
The EPC stated that its representatives will not attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, nor the official receptions of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The decision was made in solidarity with Ukraine and in response to Russia and Belarus being allocated ten quotas across three sports: snowboarding, alpine skiing, and cross-country skiing. Of the ten quotas, six went to Russia and four to Belarus.
Estonia supports Ukraine’s position on the inadmissibility of participation in official ceremonies and calls on European countries to maintain a unified principled approach. The position is based on the belief that sport should not be used to normalize aggression.
The Estonian Ministry of Culture also condemns the admission of athletes from aggressor countries to the Games under their national symbols. Norman Pider, advisor of the ministry’s sports department, who will attend the Games, will not take part in the opening ceremony but will support Estonian athletes during the competitions.
The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games will be held from March 6 to 15.
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