Valerii Sushkevych (below, second from right) and his team had to arrange for new uniforms. © APA/afp / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA

Paralympics: Ukrainian team outfit banned

Ukrainian athletes are not allowed to compete in their team uniforms at the Paralympic Winter Games in Italy.

March 03, 2026

From: apa/dpa

The reason: The suits feature a map of Ukraine. The originally planned clothing depicted the country within its 1991 borders, including Crimea and the territories currently occupied by Russia. Since political messages are prohibited, an alternative, which has since been approved, had to be found quickly.

“According to the IPC rules for Paralympic uniforms, ‘lyrics of national anthems, motivational words, public/political messages or slogans relating to national identity’ are prohibited,” a spokesperson for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) stated in response to an inquiry. A map of a country falls under this category. “In dialogue with the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, an alternative was presented within 24 hours and approved by the IPC,” the statement continued.

“Shameful decision”

The head of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, Valerii Sushkevych, criticized the ban. He said the uniform was "very beautiful, very symbolic." "We just barely managed to finish a new uniform," Sushkevych lamented.

The Ukrainian's helmet was also banned. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who caused a stir in Milan because of his helmet, also spoke out. On Instagram, he called the ban a "shameful decision." He had even been disqualified before his skeleton race because he refused to forgo the helmet banned by the IOC. The headgear displayed images of more than 20 athletes who have died as a result of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.