Ukraine Forced To Drop Paralympics Uniform Over Map Design That Broke Games Rules
MILAN, March 3 – Ukraine’s team has changed its jersey planned for the Paralympics, which features a map showing the country’s internationally recognized borders, because items related to national identity are banned, a senior official told Reuters.
IPC Chief Brand and Communications Officer Craig Spence said an alternative uniform was provided within 24 hours and approved by the International Paralympic Committee.
According to Ukrainian media reports, the original design included a map of Ukraine containing all the territories temporarily occupied by Russia.
The Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games will be held from March 6 to March 15, and Ukraine will be represented by 35 athletes competing in four sports.
According to IPC rules governing uniforms for the Games, national anthem lyrics, motivational quotes, and public or political messages or slogans regarding national identity are prohibited.
“A country’s map falls into this category, which is why part of Ukraine’s jersey for the Milan Cortina 2026 Games was not approved a few months ago,” Spence said.
During the Winter Olympics in February, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for wearing a special helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed during the Russian invasion that began four years ago.
Ukraine had announced that it would boycott the opening ceremony to be held in Verona on Friday after the IPC allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags and national anthems.
