The 2026 Games mark the first time a Russian flag has been flown at a Paralympics since Sochi 2014
Athletes from Russia and Belarus marched behind their nations' flags at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics as the 50th anniversary edition of the Games officially got under way.
The furore surrounding the inclusion of six Russians and four Belarusians at these Games has dominated the build-up, with teams from seven nations - including Ukraine - opting to boycott the ceremony in Verona in protest.
These Games mark the first time that athletes from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to compete under their nations' flags at a Paralympics since bans were imposed following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Russian flag has not been flown at a Paralympic Games since Sochi 2014, firstly because of the country's state-sponsored doping scandal, before the Ukraine war led to further sanctions.
