Ukraine’s 2026 Paralympic Uniform Rejected by IPC Over National Map Design

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has prohibited the Ukrainian national team from wearing their intended ceremonial uniforms at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, featuring a map of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

In an interview with Ukrinform published on March 2, Valeriy Sushkevych, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, revealed that the organization was forced to undergo a wardrobe change before the Games.

“The International Paralympic Committee said: ‘No, no, no – that won't work!’” Sushkevych stated. “They claimed this uniform was political and said no one would be allowed to march in it. It was very beautiful, very symbolic, and it ‘screamed’ that Ukraine exists in the world, in Europe, with all its territories free from Russian occupation.”

In a response to BBC News Ukraine, the IPC justified the disqualification of the uniforms by citing strict neutrality guidelines.

“According to IPC rules regarding uniforms for the Paralympic Games, public or political messages, as well as slogans related to national identity, are prohibited,” the committee explained.

The IPC ruled that the map fell under this category, leading to the rejection of the specific element for the upcoming Games.

The IPC confirmed that Ukraine “quickly proposed an alternative” which has since been approved for competition.

This clothing controversy serves as the most recent flashpoint in the deteriorating relationship between Ukrainian officials and the IPC. Tensions escalated significantly when Ukraine formally withdrew from the opening ceremonies, citing the IPC's controversial authorization for Russian and Belarusian delegations to compete under their national flags.

The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee stated that the boycott is a direct response to what they describe as a “political maneuver.”

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“Many countries around the world had requested additional slots for their young athletes and to start developing winter Paralympic sports in their countries, but contrary to the regulations for slot distribution, the IPC decided to give the largest number of slots to Russia,” the committee emphasized.

While Ukraine has requested that its own flag not be displayed during the ceremonial events as a mark of protest, the team has confirmed it will not boycott the competitions themselves. Ukrainian athletes are scheduled to compete across all events from March 6 to 15, 2026, choosing to challenge their opponents on the snow and ice rather than withdrawing from the global stage entirely.

Earlier, Ukraine has assembled its largest-ever delegation for the Winter Paralympics. A record 35 athletes—consisting of 25 competitors and 10 guides—will represent Ukraine in Milan-Cortina.

The 2026 Games also mark a significant expansion in the team’s competitive scope. Ukrainian athletes will compete across four disciplines: para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, and a return to both para alpine skiing (for the first time since 2014) and para snowboarding (for the first time since 2018).

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