France Decides to Participate in 2026 Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony Amid Controversy

France will participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina on March 6, despite a boycott by several countries protesting the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF), led by president Marie-Amélie Le Fur, confirmed that France would not join the boycott and would be represented by volunteers due to the distance between Verona—where the ceremony takes place—and the competition sites.

This decision follows the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) resolution allowing six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags, ending their exclusion since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in February 2022. Although the CPSF does not share the IPC's decision, it chose to respect it, as it was reached through a democratic vote.

Several nations, including Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, Estonia, and Latvia, have boycotted the opening ceremony in protest. The IPC expressed understanding of these countries' concerns but maintained its stance on the decision's legitimacy. Le Fur acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding the issue but emphasized France's commitment to respecting the IPC's democratic process while continuing to support its athletes' participation.

The situation underscores the tension between sport and geopolitics as countries wrestle with the balance between inclusivity in international competition and political protest in light of ongoing conflicts.