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Russian Flag Returns as Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics Open Amid Iran War and Boycott
The Games feature a record 616 athletes from 56 nations competing across six sports amid boycotts over Russia and Belarus' return under their flags.
- On Friday, the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics opened at the Arena di Verona amid tensions tied to the Middle East conflict and political boycotts after the Russian flag returned to the parade.
- Only about 45 athletes of the more than 600 competitors were present, and volunteers carried many flags because official flagbearers could not attend; the Arena di Verona hosted performances by Stewart Copeland and DJ Miky Bionic.
- Some in the crowd booed as Russian athletes entered during the parade, and Iran's athlete, Aboulfazl Khatibi, withdrew hours before the opening for safety reasons.
- The IPC said these are the biggest Winter Paralympics ever, noting record female participation, with the 50th anniversary marked by torch actions and cauldron lightings across Italy, and Russia's national anthem could be played for gold medallists for the first time since 2022.
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The emergence of the flag of Ukraine has met with long applause.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources104
Leaning Left39Leaning Right12Center33Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Left
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
47% Left
L 47%
C 39%
14%
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