Russian Flag Returns to Paralympics After Nearly a Decade
The Russian flag will be flown at the Winter Paralympics for the first time since 2014, following the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the upcoming Games.
Invitation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), described the decision to invite athletes from Russia and Belarus to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics as challenging. The Games are scheduled to begin on 6 March.
Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will participate in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding events. This follows the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) September decision to lift its ban on athletes from these countries.
Legal Challenges and Bipartite Invitations
Although the IPC oversees the Paralympics, it does not govern the six sports contested. Despite individual international sports federations, including FIS, initially maintaining bans on Russian and Belarusian athletes, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of Russia and Belarus in an appeal against FIS.
Consequently, these athletes have been permitted to return to FIS competitions. The ten athletes received bipartite commission invitations, which allow participation under special circumstances.
Statements from Officials
"It has not been easy. What we're dealing with here is an issue that is divisive, where people have different feelings depending on where they come from. It's something that we have to respect," Eliasch told during the Winter Olympics.
"Athletes can't choose where they were born. On the other hand, they can't be used for PR purposes in their home countries to promote the war. It's our duty to make sure that athletes are not weaponised for political purposes."
The return of the Russian flag marks its first appearance since the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games. The flag was previously absent due to Russia's state-sponsored doping scandal and, more recently, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Understanding Bipartite Commission Invitations
Bipartite commission invitations are allocated to individual athletes rather than their federations. They enable top athletes who may have missed qualification due to extraordinary circumstances to compete. The IPC, with input from international federations like FIS, determines recipients based on recommendations.
Ukraine has also been granted bipartite slots in three sports.
Ukraine's Response
On Wednesday, Ukraine's sports minister Matvii Bidnyi expressed strong disapproval of the decision to award slots to Russian and Belarusian athletes.
"The flags of Russia and Belarus have no place at international sporting events that stand for fairness, integrity and respect. These are the flags of regimes that have turned sport into a tool of war, lies and contempt," Bidnyi stated on X.
Further Comments from Eliasch and UK Officials
"It is difficult, and in our case in the end, the courts decided the outcome. Everything has been done by the book. We've had strict vetting schemes of the people who do participate to make sure they don't have any affiliation with the military, and it's important that we keep that up," Eliasch added.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy criticized the awarding of bipartite places to Russian and Belarusian athletes as "completely the wrong decision." The British Paralympic Association also described it as the "wrong approach."
"ParalympicsGB has consistently supported the decision to suspend NPC Russia and NPC Belarus, however the IPC membership recently made the decision to reinstate them and we have to recognise that decision," the British Paralympic Association said.
"We have been clear throughout that we believe this is the wrong approach and the ban should have remained in place given the ongoing war in Ukraine. We continue to express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our friends at NPC Ukraine."
IPC's Response to Criticism
In response to Nandy's comments, the IPC emphasized its democratic process.
"The International Paralympic Committee is a democratic organisation and the decision to lift the partial suspension of NPCs Belarus and Russia was taken by IPC member organisations at the 2025 General Assembly. At this meeting nearly 180 of the IPC's 211 members were in attendance and voted on this matter. We have to respect the decision of our members who come from all over the world."
Russian Athletes to Compete
According to Russian news agency TASS, athletes set to compete include Aleksey Bugaev, a three-time Paralympic alpine skiing champion, and cross-country skiers Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian, both World Championship medallists.
All three athletes returned to competition in January 2026. Since then, Bugaev and Bagiian have secured World Cup titles.
