Photo: EPA
Andriy Sybiga called on international partners to take a stand and urged their officials to boycott the opening ceremony of the Paralympics if the decision to allow Russia and Belarus to compete under their national symbols is not reversed. On X, he also thanked Antonio Tajani and Andrea Abodi for their clear stance on the issue.
“The support of our partners, when they openly back our shared principles and integrity in sports, makes us feel we are not alone,” Sybiga said.
The Italian government condemned the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Milan Paralympics under their national symbols, including anthems. Italy noted that it had previously protested alongside 33 other countries and the European Commission against the IPC’s September 27 decision to fully reinstate the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic committees.
