Russia and Belarus to compete under national flags, sparking boycott

Tensions are high ahead of an upcoming international sporting event, where six Russian and four Belarusian athletes are set to compete under their national flags for the first time since a widespread sporting exile began This marks a significant shift from events like the recent Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, where athletes from these nations could only participate as neutrals

In protest of the decision, Ukraine and a 'host of other nations' have announced they will boycott Friday's opening ceremony in Verona The move to allow the athletes to represent their countries follows the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifting a partial ban last year However, the IPC does not directly govern the six sports contested at the Paralympics; this authority lies with individual sports bodies

The controversy adds to an already complex atmosphere, with the build-up to the Games also reportedly impacted by travel disruption concerns stemming from a US-Israel war with Iran