Milano Winter Paralympics Open Amid Disputes... Only Half of Participating Countries Attend Opening Ceremony

Amid ongoing disputes over allowing Russia and Belarus to participate under their national flags and heightened tensions in the Middle East, the opening ceremony of the 14th 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics was held at the Arena di Verona in Verona, Italy, on March 7 (Korean time). Due to conflicts among participating countries, only about half of the national teams attended the opening ceremony.

This edition of the Games was originally expected to see a record number of participants, with 612 athletes from 56 countries. However, Iran, which had planned to send one cross-country skier, Abolfazl Katibi Mianai, announced its withdrawal from the Games on the opening day, citing the aftermath of military clashes with the United States and Israel.

Among the 55 participating countries excluding Iran, only 29 countries, just over half, sent their delegations to the opening ceremony.

On the 6th (local time), the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics is being held at the Arena in Verona, Italy. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Unlike the previous Winter Olympics, Russia and Belarus were allowed to participate under their national flags, prompting some countries opposed to this decision to boycott the opening ceremony. At the Winter Olympics, some athletes from Russia and Belarus participated as "Individual Neutral Athletes (INA)" because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not permit them to compete under their national flags.

However, unlike the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognized Russia and Belarus's eligibility to participate under their national flags and allowed them to use their flags and national anthems. In September last year, the IPC lifted the suspension of Russia and Belarus's IPC membership, which had been imposed in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

In response to the IPC's decision, seven countries-Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine-announced a boycott of the opening ceremony for political reasons. France and the United Kingdom declared they would not send government officials to the ceremony, and the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) also independently decided not to participate.

As a result, volunteers carried the national flags into the arena instead of athletes. When countries such as the Czech Republic, which boycotted the ceremony, were introduced, two volunteers marched in carrying the respective country's flag and a placard with its name, without any delegation present.

In alphabetical order, Korea was the 15th to enter. A volunteer led the way carrying the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag), followed by snowboarder Lee Chungmin, alpine skier Park Chaei, delegation head Yang Ohyeol, and others who participated in the on-site march.

Returning under its national flag for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics, Russia made a proud entrance led by its flag. When the Ukrainian delegation entered, they received an unusually loud round of applause from the spectators filling the arena.

On the 6th (local time), the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics is taking place at the Verona Arena in Italy. Photo by Yonhap News

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The opening ceremony began with a highlight video reflecting on the 50-year history of the Winter Paralympics, which started at the 1976 Games in Oernskoeldsvik, Sweden, marking the event’s 50th anniversary this year.

During the parade of nations, the renowned Italian electronic group Meduza heightened the atmosphere with their background music. After the parade, DJ Micky Bionic, who has a disability, took the stage and energized the crowd by remixing the event’s official main theme song while introducing the various sports and venues.

For the first time in Winter Paralympic history, the Paralympic flame was lit simultaneously in two cities. The two cauldrons were installed at the Milan Arch of Peace and Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Piazza Dibona.

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics will be held for ten days, from March 7 to 15. Korea has sent a delegation of 56 people, including 20 athletes competing in five sports (excluding para ice hockey). The Korean team aims to win one gold medal and one bronze medal, with a goal of finishing within the top 20 overall.

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