The Paralympics opening ceremony in Italy on Friday is facing a boycott by eleven nations, according to Ukraine's foreign ministry. This protest reportedly stems from the International Paralympic Committee's decision to allow Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags. Russia has been allocated six spots in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboard, while Belarus has four spots in cross-country skiing.
" Countries joining the boycott include Ukraine, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Canada, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Germany. Sweden is not participating in the ceremony, but reportedly for logistical reasons, not as part of the boycott. Additionally, the IPC has banned a jacket with a stylized map of Ukraine from the Ukrainian team's uniform, deeming it political.
scandalous
The IPC's president had appealed to keep politics out of the opening, but the situation has escalated.
dirty and disrespectful