The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has barred Ukraine’s team from wearing uniforms featuring the country’s map, deeming the design too political.
Valeriy Sushkevych, head of Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee, said the contested uniform was for ceremonial use, not for competition.
“We prepared our sports uniform, no – not even sports, but ceremonial uniform for our team. The International Paralympic Committee said: ‘No, no, no – it won’t work like that!’” Sushkevych said in an interview with state media Ukrinform.
“They said that this uniform was political.”
Sushkevych later confirmed that the contested uniform sported a map of Ukraine and was designed by designer Viktor Anisimov.
Sushkevych also recently criticized the IPC’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags – the first time since 2022 – calling it a betrayal.
“The IPC, with its latest concrete decision, has given the possibility to raise this same flag, soaked in Ukrainian blood, on the territory of the 14th Winter Paralympic Games,” Sushkevych told AFP.
Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matviy Bidny also criticized the decision.
“The decision by the Paralympics organisers to allow killers and their accomplices to compete at the Paralympic Games under national flags is both disappointing and outrageous,” Bidny wrote.
“Paralympic sport has been made a pillar for those whom [Russian President Vladimir] Putin sent to Ukraine to kill – and who returned from Ukraine with injuries and disabilities,” he added.
The IPC’s ruling comes after Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned by the International Olympic Committee for wearing a helmet honoring compatriots killed in Russia’s war on Ukraine during Winter Olympics training, sparking outrage in Ukraine.
Ukraine, joined by Czechia and Estonia, among other nations, is set to boycott the Paralympics’ opening ceremony.