Russia & Belarus to Compete Under Own Flags at Paralympics – Norway Reacts

MILANO CORTINA, Italy – The upcoming Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are unfolding against a backdrop of political complexity, as Russian and Belarusian athletes are permitted to compete under their own flags – a stark contrast to the restrictions imposed during the Olympic Games. This decision, made by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) last year, has sparked controversy and prompted several nations to announce a boycott of the opening ceremony.

Norwegian cross-country skier Thomas Karbøl Oxaal expressed his bewilderment at the discrepancy, stating to NRK, “It’s a bit special that they differentiate between the Olympics and Paralympics. Here, they compete under the Russian flag and with the Russian national anthem.”

The IPC’s decision to lift the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes was made following a vote during its general assembly in September 2025. The move allows athletes from both nations to participate fully in the Paralympics for the first time since 2014.

The decision hasn’t been without opposition. As of Thursday, nine nations – including Germany, Finland, and Ukraine – have declared their intention to boycott the opening ceremony in protest.

Despite the political tensions, the Norwegian Paralympic team is preparing to compete. Langrenn skier Vilde Nilsen and alpine skier Jesper Saltvik Pedersen have been selected as Norway’s flag bearers. Nilsen will carry the flag in Predazzo, while Pedersen will represent Norway in Cortina.

Nilsen voiced her support for Ukraine, stating to NRK, “Personally, I stand behind what Norway voted for when deciding whether or not to allow them to compete – to support Ukraine.”

Pedersen echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the difficult situation while emphasizing the need to respect the IPC’s decision. “We have to accept that the majority voted for something different than Norway wanted, and take that into consideration,” he said.

The situation is particularly poignant for Ukrainian athletes, Nilsen noted. “If you put yourself in the shoes of a Ukrainian who can’t train in their own country, who wakes up at night fearing being bombed, I think it would be a remarkably unpleasant feeling.”

Several other Norwegian athletes have also expressed their discomfort with the situation. Kjartan Haugen, a fellow langrenn skier, stated, “IOC and IPC have some values, that it shouldn’t be political, but at the same time I and many others were quite clear during the Beijing Games that we don’t wish the Russians here. I stand by that today too. I don’t really welcome them.”

IPC President Andrew Parsons, however, has defended the decision, arguing that it is significant to retain politics separate from sport. “I would have taken a different position than those countries that have taken that position here in Milan Cortina,” he told NRK. “I get frustrated when national Paralympic committees, instead of focusing on their athletes, prefer to take political stances.”

Parsons acknowledged the difficult circumstances but stressed the importance of maintaining the focus on athletic achievement. “Sport doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We are part of the society we live in. What You can’t do is let something positive, like the Paralympic Winter Games, disappear into the negative by letting politics steal the attention.”

The Russian delegation, consisting of six athletes competing in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, has remained largely silent on the controversy. Aleksej Bugajev, a Russian alpine skier, declined to comment when approached by NRK, stating simply, “I don’t talk about politics.” He did express his happiness at being able to represent his country.

Hanne Staff, responsible for the Norwegian Paralympic team, emphasized that the IPC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are independent organizations, which explains the differing approaches to Russian and Belarusian participation. “It’s two different organizations that have made two different decisions, and that’s something we have to deal with,” she said.

Zaineb Al-Samarai, President of the Norwegian Sports Confederation, reiterated Norway’s opposition to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes while their country continues its invasion of Ukraine. “Our position has been clear since 2022 and remains firm as long as Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine continues,” she stated.

Despite the ongoing debate, NRK has confirmed that it will proceed with its planned coverage of the Paralympic Winter Games. Espen Olsen Langfeldt, NRK’s sports editor, explained that the coverage will include an explanation of the IPC’s decision and the reasons behind it. “NRK does not engage in active boycotts of events, but we are committed to shedding light on all sides,” he said. “We will employ the broadcast to explain why the organizers have chosen to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags.”

Norway will be represented by a team of 15 athletes competing in alpine skiing, curling, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. The opening ceremony is scheduled to initiate at 7:55 PM local time on Friday and will be broadcast on NRK2 and NRK TV.