Tajani–Abodi: Government opposes International Paralympic Committee decision on Russia

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, have issued the following joint statement:

The Italian Government expresses its absolute opposition to the decision of the International Paralympic Committee to admit six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to participate in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, allowing the display of their national emblems, including their anthems.

The Italian Government reiterates the disagreement previously expressed, together with 33 other nations and the European Commission, regarding the decision to fully reinstate the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic Committees, taken by the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee on 27 September. It also renews its full solidarity with, and unconditional support for, Ukraine. Furthermore, it calls on the International Paralympic Committee to reconsider this decision.
The ongoing violation of the truce and of Olympic and Paralympic ideals by Russia, supported by Belarus, is incompatible with the participation of their athletes in the Games, except as neutral individual athletes.