Germany's national team will boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Games in Verona in response to the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
In a significant demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine, Germany's national para-athletes have announced their decision to boycott the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Games in Verona. This move follows the controversial decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to grant wild cards to athletes from Russia and Belarus, allowing them to compete despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The German National Paralympic Committee criticized the IPC for this decision, emphasizing that it undermines the competitive integrity of the Games.
