ParalympicsGB issues statement as UK government to boycott Winter Paralympics opening ceremony

ParalympicsGB has cleared up why there will be no Team GB athletes at the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony following news that the UK government would be boycotting tonight's event.

The games kicked off today with wheelchair curling, and, much like the Olympics, the opening ceremony is one of the biggest events of the games.

But it was confirmed earlier today that the UK government wouldn't be in attendance, as they chose to boycott the event after Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete.

And now, the sporting organisation has confirmed exactly why they won't be sending any athlete representation to tonight's opening ceremony at the Verona Arena.

Speaking to LADbible, ParalympicsGB said: "ParalympicsGB have been clear throughout that we believe the ban on Russia and Belarus should have remained in place given the ongoing war in Ukraine. We continue to express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our friends at NPC Ukraine.

Some sports began before the ceremony ( Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

"ParalympicsGB has never boycotted a Games as we believe it only serves to punish the athletes who have worked so hard to qualify for Milano Cortina 2026.

"Athletes are not attending the opening ceremony for performance reasons as competition begins the following day and that decision was taken many months ago well before any suggestion athletes from Russia and Belarus would be competing. ParalympicsGB athletes will also feature in video content that forms part of the opening ceremony."

The UK government took a slightly stronger stance on the involvement of athletes from Russia and Belarus, who have been allowed to compete under their own flags despite the ongoing war with Ukraine.

A statement from a UK government spokesperson said: “We strongly oppose the decision of the International Paralympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

"We have been clear that Russian and Belarusian states should not be represented in international sport while the barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. Therefore, no Government Ministers or officials will attend the Opening or Closing Ceremonies of the Paralympics.”

Skier Menna Fitzpatrick was due to be the flagbearer for ParalympicsGB (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The only representative from the UK at tonight's event in Italy will be Minister for Sport, Stephanie Peacock, who is there 'purely to support our inspirational ParalympicsGB athletes, as she was there to support TeamGB at the Winter Olympics last month'.

But the skiing duo Menna Fitzpatrick and Scott Meenagh, who were selected as the ParalympicsGB's official flagbearers, won't be in attendance as the distance is too great from their camp, as they prepare to compete tomorrow.

Belarus and Russia were both banned from the Olympic and Winter Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee for 'violating the Olympic truce'.

Which countries are boycotting the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony?

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed the following countries would not be sending athletes to the ceremony:

• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Ukraine