US EditionIPC President Criticizes Political Focus Shift at 2026 Winter Paralympics
IPC President Andrew Parsons said most national committees prioritized sport despite political tensions over Russia's return amid operational challenges at the Games.
- On Sunday, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons praised the Winter Paralympics in Verona, Italy, while criticizing NPCs for attempting to shift focus from athletics to politics.
- The return of the Russian flag and anthem at the Games, for the first time since Sochi, sparked opposition from NPCs, including The Canadian Paralympic Committee.
- Parsons called it "disappointing" that some committees prioritized political statements, though he maintained the "vast majority" of participants remained focused on competition and the IPC's inclusive mission.
- The spread-out venue model used in Milano Cortina is "here to stay," Parsons said, reducing construction costs despite increasing operational complexity.
- Future Games may shift to January and February to address warmer weather, as Parsons warned that global leaders are not responding quickly enough to mitigate environmental trends.
24 Articles
24 Articles
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons expressed frustration with complaints about pressure from the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine during the 2026 Games in Italy, saying they were an attempt to “divert attention from sport to politics”.
Estonian Paralympic Committee President Monika Haukanõmm told "Sports Sunday" that boycotting the opening and closing ceremonies of the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games was the only right decision. According to her, European federations must pressure the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to prevent athletes from aggressor countries from competing internationally.
IPC president: ‘Disappointing’ that Ukraine put focus on politics at Milan Cortina Paralympics
The president of the International Paralympic Committee was disappointed with the complaints made by Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee during the Milan Cortina Games, saying they appeared to be an attempt to shift the focus from sports to politics.
IPC president disappointed with Ukraine, suggests team shifted focus to politics at Milan-Cortina Paralympics
The president of the International Paralympic Committee was disappointed with the complaints made by Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee during the Milan-Cortina Games, saying they appeared to be an attempt to shift the focus from sports to politics.
Associated Press News
IPC president disappointed with Ukraine for shifting focus to politics at Milan Cortina Paralympics
The president of the International Paralympic Committee says he was disappointed with the complaints made by Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee during the Milan Cortina Games.
The president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, expressed disappointment at the complaints of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine on the closing day of the Milan-Cortina Games. Parsons considered these complaints to be an effort to divert attention from sporting events to political issues. In an interview with The Associated Press at the end of the Winter Paralympic Games, Parsons praised the competition a…
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