Under the Paralympic system, each sport\u2019s international federation is responsible for determining both the qualification pathway and the eligibility of athletes for its events. Following the IPC General Assembly\u2019s decision, the Committee sought confirmation from the four international federations governing the sports featured at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games - the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), International Biathlon Union (IBU), World Curling, and World Para Ice Hockey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The responses from the federations, however, made one reality clear: in practice, athletes from Belarus and Russia are not likely to qualify for the Games next March.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the snow sports, the FIS Council voted on Tuesday, October 21, not to facilitate the participation of athletes from the two nations in its qualification events for Milano Cortina 2026. Similarly, the IBU confirmed that \u201cthe Belarusian and Russian Biathlon Federations remain suspended from its competitions as per the IBU Congress decision of September 2022.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When it comes to Para ice hockey, while the IPC\u2019s September decision technically allows Russia to compete again, World Para Ice Hockey has made clear that \u201cit is not possible in practice for the nation to qualify for March\u2019s Games.\u201d Belarus, meanwhile, \u201cdoes not currently have a Para ice hockey team competing at the international level.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In wheelchair curling, World Curling had already announced in January 2025 that it would extend the exclusion of Belarus and Russia from its competitions until the end of the 2024\u20132025 season. As a result, teams from both nations are ineligible to qualify for Milano Cortina 2026.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
IPC President Andrew Parsons emphasised the organization\u2019s respect for the autonomy of each federation, stating, \u201cIn the same way that the IPC fully respects the decision of the IPC General Assembly not to maintain the partial suspensions of NPC Belarus and NPC Russia, we also fully respect the decisions of each international federation regarding the sports they govern.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe positions of FIS, IBU and World Curling currently mean that athletes and teams from Belarus and Russia cannot compete in their events, making it impossible for them to qualify for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhile Belarus and Russia can now compete in Para ice hockey competitions, at this late stage of the qualification cycle, the six teams for November\u2019s Paralympic Games Qualification Tournament have already been determined.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe positions of FIS, IBU and World Curling currently mean that athletes and teams from Belarus and Russia cannot compete in their events, making it impossible for them to qualify for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will run from March 6\u201315, 2026, featuring 79 medal events across six sports. The event will also mark a historic milestone - the 50th anniversary of the Paralympic Winter Games, which began in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden in 1976.<\/p>\r\n\r\n