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  "path": "/sport/winter-olympics/winter-paralympics-opening-ceremony-ukraineboycotts-russia-belarus",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-07T09:34:16.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Alysa Liu net worth explained after father's $1m investment and record-breaking Winter Olympics",
    "Winter Olympics athlete reveals health issue after he admitted to cheating on his girlfriend",
    "Jutta Leerdam's shell suit breaks Cristiano Ronaldo record at auction after huge sale",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nRussia's flag flew at a Paralympic Winter Games opening ceremony on Friday eevening forthe first time in more than a decade.\n\nThe four Russian athletes were met with boos from spectators as they entered the historic Arena di Verona, waving to the crowd despite the hostile reception.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThis marked the flag's first appearance at a winter edition of the Games since Russia hosted the event in Sochi in 2014.\n\nThe delegation's presence proved deeply controversial, with several nations refusing to participate in the parade at the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nUkraine led the boycott.\n\nIts athletes were absent from the ceremony, despite the country's flag receiving one of the warmest receptions of the evening as it was carried into the arena by a volunteer.\n\nSix other nations joined the protest against the participation of Russian and Belarusian competitors.\n\nThe Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania all refused to send their delegations to the parade.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe controversy surrounding the inclusion of six Russian and four Belarusian athletes had dominated discussions in the lead-up to the Games.\n\nThe International Paralympic Committee facing criticism from multiple countries over its decision to lift the ban.\n\nBelarus similarly returned to the Paralympic stage.\n\nTwo athletes took part in the parade after facing the same ban imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Alysa Liu net worth explained after father's $1m investment and record-breaking Winter Olympics\n  * Winter Olympics athlete reveals health issue after he admitted to cheating on his girlfriend\n  * Jutta Leerdam's shell suit breaks Cristiano Ronaldo record at auction after huge sale\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRussia had initially been excluded from the 2016 Summer Paralympics due to a state-sponsored doping scandal, with further sanctions following the military action in Ukraine.\n\nNow that the suspension has been lifted, the Russian national anthem could potentially be heard at a major international sporting competition for the first time since 2022, should any of their athletes claim gold.\n\nThe Milan-Cortina Games will feature competition across 79 events spanning six sports.\n\nInternational Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding these Games during his address at the ceremony.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe said: \"Four years ago I said I was horrified at what was happening in the world. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved.\"\n\nParsons argued sport provides an alternative perspective.\n\nHe said: \"In a world where some countries are better known by the names of their leaders, I prefer to know the countries by the name of their athletes.\"\n\nParsons said the Paralympics demonstrate how \"differences are not reason for separation but sources of strength\" and that \"nations gather as neighbours.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Ukraine leads boycotts as athletes from Russia and Belarus march at Winter Paralympics opening ceremony"
}