Potential Participation of Russian Athletes in the 2026 Winter Paralympics
Russian Paralympic athletes may be allowed to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, scheduled for March 6–15 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Pavel Rozhkov, head of the Russian Paralympic Committee, has indicated that approximately 40 Russian athletes could potentially be admitted to compete in several sports. This follows a reversal of the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) earlier position, though eligibility for certain sports remains under discussion. The IPC's shifting stance reflects the ongoing, complex debate over the participation of Russian athletes in global sport.
Medal Events and Eligible Sports
A total of 79 medal events across six sports will be contested at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. In September 2025, the Russian Paralympic Committee announced that the IPC General Assembly had voted to reinstate its membership. However, in October 2025, the IPC declared that Russian athletes would be excluded from all sports at the 2026 Games.
According to Pavel Rozhkov, Russian competitors may now be eligible for:
- Cross-country skiing
- Alpine skiing
- Para snowboard
Participation in wheelchair curling and para ice hockey remains excluded. Furthermore, the situation for biathletes is complicated by the absence of a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding their eligibility. Rozhkov noted that his organization is seeking entry in three sports disciplines, but a final decision is still pending.
The potential inclusion of Russian Paralympians for the 2026 Winter Games has generated significant interest, given the IPC's previous decisions to bar them from international competition. The committee's changing position may signal a gradual softening of its policy, though definitive rulings on participation are not yet settled. This issue continues to have broad implications for the sporting community and international relations within the world of athletics.