Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in their nations colours and their anthem played at a major sporting event for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine.
Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete for their countries at the 2026 Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, the governing body confirmed today (February 17).
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be “treated like (those from) any other country”.
Currently, Russian athletes have been able to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes since 2022. But this will see the first time they have been allowed to compete in Russian colours with the anthem also allowed to be played should they make the podium.
(Image: AP)
The decision has sparked outage with fears other sporting bodies may also lift restrictions, despite Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine.
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