Day Seven of the 2026 Paralympics Marred by Controversy Over Ukrainian Symbols

Competition at the 2026 Paralympics

According to Главком: The seventh day of competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo is scheduled for March 13. Ukrainian athletes will compete in three sports: Para alpine skiing, Para snowboarding, and Para biathlon. All event times are listed in Kyiv time. The Paralympic Games are a major global event celebrating athletic excellence and resilience.

Among the Ukrainian participants is Maksym Heliuta, making his Paralympic debut in the giant slalom, and Vladyslav Khilchenko, who will compete in banked slalom. However, a controversy has emerged after the family of a Ukrainian champion from Ternopil was reportedly forced to remove national symbols at the 2026 Paralympics.

"The family of the Ukrainian champion came from Ternopil, bought tickets, entered the stadium with a Ukrainian flag and wearing Ukrainian clothing. They were stopped, their flag was taken, and a scarf with a Ukrainian ornament was taken from the champion's mother. Only after they were, forgive me, stripped of these items, were they allowed onto the stadium grounds,"

commented Valeriy Sushkevych on the situation.

Schedule for Day Seven of the 2026 Paralympic Games

• 9:00 - Para alpine skiing - Giant Slalom (athletes with visual impairment, impaired muscle power). Men. First run.
• 9:00 - Para snowboarding - Banked Slalom. Class LL2 (women), classes UL, LL1, LL2 (men). First run.
• 9:45 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Qualification. Sitting class, women.
• 10:00 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Qualification. Sitting class, men.
• 10:05 - Wheelchair Curling - Mixed teams. Semi-finals.
• 10:35 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Qualification. Standing class, women.
• 10:50 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Qualification. Standing class, men.
• 11:00 - Para snowboarding - Banked Slalom. Class LL2 (women), classes UL, LL1, LL2 (men). Second run.
• 11:05 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Qualification. Athletes with visual impairment, women.
• 11:20 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Qualification. Athletes with visual impairment, men.
• 12:30 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Final. Sitting class, women.
• 12:45 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Final. Sitting class, men.
• 13:00 - Para alpine skiing - Giant Slalom (athletes with visual impairment, impaired muscle power). Men. Second run.
• 13:10 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Final. Standing class, women.
• 13:25 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Final. Standing class, men.
• 13:50 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Final. Athletes with visual impairment, women.
• 14:05 - Para biathlon - Sprint Pursuit. Final. Athletes with visual impairment, men.
• 14:35 - Para Ice Hockey - Semi-finals. USA – Czechia.
• 18:35 - Wheelchair Curling - Mixed teams. Bronze medal match.
• 19:05 - Para Ice Hockey - Semi-finals. Canada – China.

This day promises to be packed with events and competitions where Ukrainian athletes aim to showcase their best performances.

The incident involving the prohibition of national symbols for Ukrainian supporters has sparked public outrage and is being widely discussed in the media. It underscores the critical importance of national identity and expression at international sporting events, particularly against the backdrop of contemporary global tensions. Such controversies can significantly impact athlete morale and the spirit of their supporters, highlighting how sport often intersects with broader political and social narratives.