MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Belarusian athletes will not participate in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, BelTA learned from the press service of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
In September 2025, the IPC General Assembly voted to fully reinstate the rights of the Paralympic committees of Belarus and Russia. This decision meant that athletes from both countries could participate in the Paralympic Games, provided they qualified according to the rules of the respective international federation. However, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) decided not to allow Belarusians and Russians to take part in the selection process, and the suspension was also extended by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the World Curling Federation.
In accordance with the IPC General Assembly's decision, Belarusian and Russian athletes could have participated in sled hockey competitions; however, in practice, the countries' qualification for the Games is impossible because the lineup of participants for the hockey qualifiers is already known. The 2026 Paralympic Games will be held in Italy on 6-15 March.
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