Russia flag raised in Paralympics for the first time in 10 years
The Russian flag has made a return to podium celebrations at an international Olympics-related event for the first time in 10 years. The flag was hoisted following podium finish by Russian athletes at the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics. The decision to allow Russia’s participation follows the approval of the International Paralympics Committee at its […]
The Russian flag has made a return to podium celebrations at an international Olympics-related event for the first time in 10 years.
The flag was hoisted following podium finish by Russian athletes at the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics.
The decision to allow Russia’s participation follows the approval of the International Paralympics Committee at its General Assembly last September.
Russian athletes had been barred from competing under the country’s flag and other national symbols following bans for doping violations since Sochi 2014, and a wider ban adopted since 2023 following the invasion of Ukraine.
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The Russian flag was last hoisted at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, and the country is still banned by all other international sporting events, including the IOC/Olympics, FIFA and UEFA.
The soviet nation has, however, made a stealthy return on the international stage, with Aleksei Bugaev and Varvara Voronchikhina claiming bronze in the men and women’s downhill standing events respectively.
They were cheered on– and celebrated afterwards– by a small group of Russian supporters who waved a single Russian flag.
Bugaev who won his first medal since Sochi 2014 told reporters that Russian athletes continued training despite the ban, while first-time paralympian Voronchikhina was happy Russian athletes competed under their flag.
“We have been without a flag for a very long time, and I’m really happy about that for my country and my teammates.”