The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has awarded 10 wildcard places to athletes from Russia and Belarus for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy, scheduled for March 6–15. The IPC told news agencies the athletes will be allowed to compete under their national flags and will be “treated like [those from] any other country.”
The decision marks a different approach from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has required Russian and Belarusian competitors at the main Winter Olympics to take part only as neutral entrants. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — which used Belarusian territory for some military movements — many sports bodies initially imposed broad bans on teams from both countries. At the last Winter Games, Russia and Belarus faced blanket exclusions.
Under pressure and following legal challenges, the IOC eased its position and permitted some individuals to compete on a case-by-case basis under the AIN (Individual Neutral Athletes) designation, without national symbols or anthems. Thirteen Russians and seven Belarusians took part under those conditions at the recent Winter Olympics.
The IPC lifted its suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes at its general assembly in September, a move that preceded Tuesday’s confirmation on flags. Of the 10 wildcards, six go to Russian athletes across alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding, with places balanced between men and women. Belarus received four slots, all in cross-country skiing.
Responses from international sport federations remain mixed. Some organizations continue to bar Russian and Belarusian teams, while others have rescinded restrictions amid legal, political and public pressure. Russia’s Olympic Committee chief has urged a full Olympic return by 2028. In football, Russia is still excluded from World Cup and European Championship qualification, though FIFA’s president has called on UEFA to reconsider. Ice hockey bans are still in effect and may be appealed. Tennis sanctions proved largely temporary, aside from some Davis Cup team limits. World Athletics lifted its ban on the two countries in 2023, and the international chess federation removed restrictions late last year.
The IPC’s move has reignited debate about the politicization of sport and whether athletes should be penalized for their governments’ actions. The issue surfaced at the recent Winter Olympics when Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevych was excluded after refusing to remove a helmet commemorating victims of the war; the IOC said the helmet violated rules barring political statements, while critics argued the athlete was unfairly punished and raised wider questions about sport and politics.