Canada has publicly rejected the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags and anthems at the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games.
What happened
– In September the IPC’s general assembly voted to reinstate full national representation for Russian and Belarusian athletes. Canada’s Paralympic Committee (CPC) formally voted against the move at that meeting and has since repeated its opposition publicly.
– The controversy flared again when governing bodies allocated a total of 10 athlete slots to Russia and Belarus — four for Belarus (Para nordic) and six for Russia across Para alpine, Para snowboard and Para nordic. That allocation followed a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that compelled the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to accept entries from those athletes.
Why Canada said “no”
The CPC grounded its dissent in two main objections:
– Geopolitics: Canada argued the decision ignored the wider context of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and breached the spirit of the Olympic truce.
– Doping concerns: The committee said systemic doping issues remain unresolved and that evidence of meaningful remediation is insufficient.
Karen O’Neill, CEO of the CPC, told CBC Sports the debate was highly emotional and that Canada’s vote was intended as a defense of governance standards — not merely a political gesture. Still, the assembly’s motion passed, and the IPC’s reinstatement stood.
Legal vs. normative pressure
This dispute highlights a growing disconnect in sport governance: legal rulings can force federations to accept athletes, while international bodies like the IPC must weigh broader ethical, safety and reputational questions. CAS focused on entry rights under existing rules; the IPC made a judgment call about whether full national representation was appropriate. Those tracks don’t always line up, and that friction is central to the current row.
Practical fallout
– Federations now face a logistical headache: reconcile CAS-mandated entries with IPC requirements for vetting, anti-doping checks and accreditation.
– The CPC and other committees are asking federations to publish clear protocols — timelines for anti-doping checks, monitoring plans, and transparent criteria for any conditional participation.
Reactions across the movement
– Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee announced it would boycott the opening ceremony in protest; the Czech committee expressed solidarity and echoed that stance.
– IPC president Andrew Parsons has said the reinstatement decision cannot be overturned by the board or his office.
Team Canada’s choice on the opening ceremony
Canada decided not to send most athletes and officials to the opening ceremony in Verona on March 6. Organizers offered a token delegation of two athletes and two officials; the CPC judged that insufficient and chose to prioritize athlete readiness. Many Canadian competitors had events the next day and stayed in their satellite villages, with viewing parties arranged so the team could mark the moment without compromising performance. The CPC framed this move as about preparation and welfare rather than a direct protest.
How this splits IPC and IOC approaches
The IPC’s vote allowing national flags contrasts with the International Olympic Committee’s approach in similar cases, where some athletes have been allowed to compete only as neutrals after individual vetting (no flags, no anthems). That difference reflects divergent strategies for balancing legal obligations, reputational risk and the message sent to athletes and the wider public.
What’s next for the Paralympic movement
Members will now need to harmonize legal requirements, governance norms and athlete welfare. Likely outcomes include:
– Stricter, more transparent eligibility and anti-doping procedures.
– Clearer expectations for reinstatement, combining both technical evidence and principled assurances.
– Increased engagement with governments and human-rights bodies where geopolitical concerns intersect with sport.
What happened
– In September the IPC’s general assembly voted to reinstate full national representation for Russian and Belarusian athletes. Canada’s Paralympic Committee (CPC) formally voted against the move at that meeting and has since repeated its opposition publicly.
– The controversy flared again when governing bodies allocated a total of 10 athlete slots to Russia and Belarus — four for Belarus (Para nordic) and six for Russia across Para alpine, Para snowboard and Para nordic. That allocation followed a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that compelled the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to accept entries from those athletes.0