The Estonian public broadcaster ERR says it will not broadcast the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, featuring Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has recently allowed six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to participate under their countries’ flags. The step has triggered angry reactions both from Ukraine and European countries.
Condemning the normalization of the aggressor through sport
Rivo Saarna, head of ERR’s sports editorial department, says that the broadcaster firmly opposes normalizing the actions of aggressor states through sport and condemns the IPC decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national symbols.
ERR plans to broadcast only the opening and closing ceremonies, while informing viewers about the IPC decision and the reasons for allowing Russian and Belarusian participation.
Potential expansion of restrictions: “disgrace”
Saarna notes that discussions on the participation of aggressor states and broadcasting responses are ongoing among other European Broadcasting Union (EBU) channels. ERR may expand restrictions depending on partner decisions.
Meanwhile, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has called the IPC decision a “disgrace”, emphasizing that allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes under national flags is unacceptable.
Poland also condemned the decision: will not participate in protest
The Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism has announced it will not participate in the opening ceremony in protest.
The ministry states that allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete with their flags and anthems is completely unacceptable amid ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, has thanked the Polish ministry for its solidarity and support.
