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The Conversation
The Conversation
Jack Anderson, Professor of Sports Law, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

Paralympic politics: how Russia, Belarus and Israel sparked opening ceremony boycotts

United States IPC Russia Belarus Israel Paralympics Ukraine Finland Milan Olympics

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics takes place on Friday but geopolitical tensions have spurred some countries, including the Czech Republic, Finland and Ukraine, to boycott the opening ceremony.

The planned boycotts come after a vexed build-up to the summer Olympics in Italy and continuing political uncertainty.

So, why are some countries boycotting the opening ceremony and how may the event be affected?

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