Winter Paralympics 2026 will be held without Russians

The aggressor countries' national teams failed to qualify for the Paralympics, Rakitsky scores a masterpiece for Chornomorets, and Wardley becomes Usyk's most likely next opponent. Read more about this and other things in the digest of sports events from Intent.

Paralympic Games 2026

• This week it became known that the Russian and Belarusian national teams will not participate in the Winter Paralympics, which will be held next March in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
• In September, the International Paralympic Committee voted not to extend the partial suspension of the National Paralympic Committees of Belarus and Russia. Thus, at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy, the Russian national team could theoretically compete under its own flag and anthem as if nothing had happened.

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The Ukrainian Paralympic team. PHOTO: Paralympic.org.ua

• The final decision was left to the federations of individual sports. The biathlon, skiing and curling federations informed the IPC in different wording that they were extending the suspensions for Russians and Belarusians. In hockey, there is no suspension, but the qualifying stage is already at a late stage, so Russia will not be able to qualify.

I'm grateful to the international sports federations for a fair decision. The sporting world sees that sport should be free of politics, but it should consciously call war a war and the aggressor an aggressor.

Matviy Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports

Games and results

Yaroslav Rakitsky celebrates scoring a goal. PHOTO: FC Chornomorets

• "<b>Chornomorets </b>drew away to <b> Left Bank.</b> After conceding the first goal, the Odesa team equalized before the break thanks to an impressive long-range shot by <b>Yaroslav Rakitskyi</b>. Odesa played the second half in the minority due to the removal of goalkeeper Aniagboso. Next week, the match between the leaders of the First League will take place in Odesa - Shakhtar will host Bukovyna.

The standings of the First League. Screenshot of pfl.ua

Interkhim vs Budivelnyk match. PHOTOS: Basketball Federation of Ukraine

• "<b>Interchem</b> started the season in the Basketball Super League, and the Odesa team lost twice to Budivelnyk Kyiv. While the first game kept the intrigue alive until the very end, with several lead changes and minimal gaps in the fourth quarter, the Kyiv team had a more comfortable advantage in the second game. In the Men's Super League, Niko Basket lost to Kryvbas, so after seven games, the dramatic victory against Rivne remains the only one for the Mykolaiv team.

Players of HC Odeschyna. PHOTO: Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine

• "Odeschyna won its first dry victory in the history of its performances in the Ukrainian championship - Kryzhynka-Capitales fell victim to Odesa. "Storm managed to put pressure on the leaders and reigning champions Kremenchuk in extra time thanks to a goal by Ilya Krickley.

Standings of the Ukrainian championship. PHOTO: Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine

Events of the week

Fabio Wardley. PHOTO: Leigh Dawney

• British boxer Fabio Wardley defeated Joseph Parker by knockout in the 11th round in the fight for the WBO interim title. Thus, according to the decision of the World Boxing Organization, Wardley should become the next opponent of the absolute world champion Oleksandr Usyk. Negotiations are currently underway, and promoter Frank Warren names the end of March 2026 as a possible date for the fight, and London or Riyadh as the venue.

Oleksandr Oleynikov. PHOTO: Felipe Figueiredo

• Oleksandra<b>Oliynykova </b>played at the WTA125 tournament in Florianopolis, Brazil. The Odesa player reached the semifinals, where she lost in three sets to Austrian Graber.

Traditionally, we wish you and your favorite athletes and teams good luck!

Адлен Муатс