The Estonian Paralympic Committee (EPC) has announced its decision to refrain from attending any official events, including the opening and closing ceremonies, at the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina scheduled for March. This decision follows the controversial announcement by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on February 16, which granted 'bipartite' invitations that allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the Games. With this decision, the EPC has expressed its strong disapproval of the inclusion of athletes from these countries, perceived as aggressors in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The decision to boycott the official ceremonies underscores the challenging dynamics within the international sports community, where political tensions often intersect with competitive events. The EPC's stance reflects a growing trend among sports bodies and national committees to take political positions regarding participation and representation in international events. By not participating in the ceremonies, the EPC aims to highlight its support for Ukraine and its broader opposition to the inclusion of athletes from nations perceived as complicit in aggression.

In detail, the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus has sparked significant debate and backlash from various national committees. The allocation of specific quotas for these athletes creates divisions within the sporting community, questioning the ethics of allowing competitors from countries facing international sanctions to participate. The boycotting of the ceremonies by the EPC may serve as a call to action for other national committees to re-evaluate their policies concerning participation in international sporting events involving nations that have engaged in military aggression.