In a move that could bring athletes back to the Paralympic stage, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has lifted the partial suspension of Belarus and Russia’s National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). The decision, made at the IPC General Assembly in September, restores full membership for both countries, allowing their athletes to compete in the Paralympic Games if they qualify through their sport’s international federation.
But can they actually make it to Milan Cortina 2026?
Each sport has a governing federation that sets qualification rules. The IPC asked the four federations that run the sports in last‑year’s Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics – the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the International Biathlon Union (IBU), World Curling, and World Para Ice Hockey – for their positions.
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FIS (skiing and snowboarding):
On October 21, the FIS Council voted not to open its qualification events to athletes from Belarus and Russia. -
IBU (biathlon):
The IBU confirmed that both the Belarusian and Russian Biathlon Federations remain suspended from its competitions, following a 2022 decision. -
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World Curling (wheelchair curling):
The federation already announced in January that Belarus and Russia would stay out of its events until the end of the 2024‑2025 season, so neither country can qualify for Milan Cortina 2026. -
World Para Ice Hockey:
While the IPC’s decision technically allows Russia to compete, the federation said it is practically impossible for Russian teams to qualify for the March Games. Belarus has no international Para ice hockey team at present.
Because of those rulings, athletes from Belarus and Russia are unlikely to secure spots in the upcoming Paralympics.
IPC’s stance
IPC President Andrew Parsons said the committee respects the autonomy of each federation. “We fully respect the decisions of the international federations governing each sport,” he told reporters from Bonn. “Our decision to lift the suspension is separate from the federations’ choices about qualification.”
Parsons added that while Belarus and Russia can now enter Para ice hockey events, the final line‑ups for the November qualification tournament have already been set, leaving little chance for late arrivals.
Looking ahead
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics will run from March 6 to 15, 2026. The Games feature 79 medal events in six sports and will celebrate 50 years since the first Paralympic Winter Games in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, back in 1976.
As the IPC pulls back its corporate suspensions, the focus now shifts to the athletes and NPCs who will compete. The four international federations’ positions remain clear: Belarusian and Russian athletes will face major hurdles in qualifying for the 2026 Games. The event promises to leave a lasting legacy for Paralympic sport, but the road to the podium remains steep for those two nations.
Source: ianslive
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