Estonian Public Broadcaster's Boycott
Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) has announced it will not air events from the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy where athletes from Russia and Belarus are competing. This decision follows the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) controversial move to allow ten competitors from these nations to participate under their national flags. The Baltic states have been among the most vocal critics of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes into international sport since the onset of the war in Ukraine.
ERR will only broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies. During these broadcasts, commentators will explain the decisions made by international sports bodies and provide background on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. This stance mirrors a similar boycott already declared by Latvia's public broadcaster, LSM.
Response to the International Paralympic Committee's Ruling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also condemned the IPC's decision to admit athletes from Russia and Belarus to the 2026 Winter Games. ERR's Director General, Rivo Saarna, emphasized that the broadcaster unequivocally condemns the normalization of aggressor states' actions through sport and the Olympic movement. He stressed the unacceptability of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the Milan Paralympics.
"The decision by Estonian Public Broadcasting, alongside the similar position of Latvia's broadcaster, highlights the growing concern among Baltic nations regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions following the onset of military conflicts."
The broadcasting boycott serves not only as a protest but also as an attempt to draw attention to the problem of using sport as a tool for political propaganda. Such actions may influence future decisions by international sports organizations regarding the participation of athletes from nations pursuing aggressive policies.