No Russians or Belarusians at Winter Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian para-athletes will not be participating in the 2026 Winter Paralympics, despite the lifting of the ban on them by the International Paralympic Committee. Three governing bodies overseeing the sports in the upcoming Games have chosen to maintain their bans on athletes from these nations, impacting their ability to qualify for the event. The bans stem from the suspension following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Belarus being a key ally, and although para-athletes from these countries can now compete under their flags, it is too late for them to join the qualifying process.