Ukrainian officials will boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics next month due to the participation of a small number of Russian and Belarusian athletes, Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi said on Wednesday.
The athletes have been cleared to compete under their flag.
Ukrainian athletes will still compete in the March 6-15 Paralympic Games.
The boycott will mean no Ukrainian official will attend the opening ceremony or any other event.
Russia and Belarus will have a combined 10 para athletes at next month’s Paralympics following Tuesday’s decision by the International Paralympic Committee.
Bidnyi said: “In response to the outrageous decision to let Russians and Belarusians compete under their national flags, Ukrainian public officials will not attend the Paralympic Games.
“We will not be present at the opening ceremony. We will not take part in any other official Paralympic events.
“We thank every official from the free world who will do the same.”
Ukrainian officials will boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics next month
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He added: “We will keep fighting!”
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