Glenn Micallef, a sports eurocommissioner, publicly declared that he will not attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, citing the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. He emphasized that he cannot support the use of national symbols, flags, anthems, and uniforms associated with this conflict. His stance reflects growing concerns about the appropriateness of integrating Russian and Belarusian athletes into international competitions given their countries' involvement in the war in Ukraine.

Recent developments confirm that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete at the Paralympics with their national flags, a decision confirmed by the governing body of the games to AFP. The International Paralympic Committee stated that these athletes will be treated like representatives from any other country, highlighting a significant shift in how athletes from these nations are perceived within the Olympic community.

This news suggests that Russia's national identity is set to be reinstated within the Olympic realm well before the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028. It marks a considerable change from the policies imposed after the 2014 Sochi Games, when Russian athletes faced a ban due to state-sponsored doping scandals. The upcoming Games are poised to reignite debates regarding the political implications of sports and the integration of nations involved in ongoing conflicts into international sports events.