Sport Headlines | Sadowski-Synnott wins Olympic silver, Netball NZ calls in Kereyn Smith to rebuild its board, Pakistan in Super 8s.| Thursday, February 19, 2026.
A group of Ukrainian New Zealanders have come out in support of Ukrainian officials boycotting the Paralympic Winter Games after it was announced that Russian athletes could compete under their flag.
The International Paralympic Committee said six Russians and four Belarusians will be able to compete at the Milano-Cortinagames as part of their national teams rather than as neutral athletes, with the nations’ national anthems to be played if athletes win a gold medal.
The Ukrainian Association of New Zealand (UANZ) said the decision was “appalling” and it stood in “solidarity” with Ukrainian officials and athletes who had announced a boycott of the games.
“It is a profound injustice that Ukrainian athletes (many of whom have lost homes, training facilities, teammates and family members to Russia’s war) will not compete, while representatives of the aggressor state are welcomed back under national symbols,” a spokesperson said.
“Sport is not separate from politics. Russia has long used international sport as a tool of state representation and soft power.
“Many Russian elite athletes operate within state-controlled sporting structures closely linked to government institutions, and many openly support the regime.
The International Paralympic Committee has said Russian athletes can compete under their country's flag at the Milano-Cortina games. Photo / Getty Images
“National symbols – the flag and anthem – are instruments of state identity and cannot be separated from the actions of that state."
Russia has been largely banned from international sport since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Before that, Russian athletes had not competed at the Paralympics under their nation’s flag since the 2014 games because of Russia’s state-sponsored doping programme.
“We urge international sporting organisations to reconsider the broader implications of this decision and to stand on the side of integrity, responsibility, and justice,” UANZ said.
Paralympics NZ has been contacted for comment.
New Zealand will be sending two athletes to the Paralympic Winter Games, running from March 6-15, with both competing in alpine skiing.
Adam Hall will be taking part in his record-equalling sixth Winter Paralympics, while Corey Peters will look to add more medals to the gold he won in Beijing four years ago.
