IPC says it is surprised by Ukraine’s accusations of systematic pressure on the 2026 Paralympics
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) responded to the accusations of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine regarding “systematic pressure” on athletes during the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina. IPC Communications Director Craig Spence, quoted by the Associated Press, commented that the committee “had not received any feedback” from Ukraine, and it was a “surprise” to receive such statements.
Among the incidents cited by the Ukrainian IPC are the demand to remove the Ukrainian flag from the house where the team lives, the interruption of scheduled team meetings, and the ban on a parabiathlete wearing earrings with the inscription Stop War at the awards ceremony. Spence explained the ban on earrings by the “rules of the Games,” and promised to further investigate the IPC flag.
At the same time, the IPC has already banned the Ukrainian national team from competing at the 2026 Paralympics in uniforms with a map of Ukraine, which they called “political.” Patriotic gear was also restricted at the Milan Olympics: freestyler Kateryna Kotsar was not allowed to wear a helmet with the words “Be brave like Ukrainians,” short track speed skater Oleh Gandey was not allowed to wear a helmet with a quote from Lina Kostenko, and skeleton racer Vladyslav Geraskevych was disqualified for wearing a helmet in memory of fallen Ukrainian athletes.
