• The decision permits the display of national flags and the playing of national anthems if athletes win medals.

Key Highlights:
Background : Russian athletes were initially banned in 2022 due to the Ukraine conflict and previously competed only as neutrals. This marks the first return of Russia’s flag at the Winter Paralympics since 2014, following earlier doping and geopolitical bans.
Russia Quota: The IPC allocated six quota slots to Russia, including one male and one female athlete each in para-alpine skiing and para-cross country skiing, along with two male athletes in para-snowboard.
Belarus Quota: The IPC allocated four quota slots to Belarus, comprising one male and three female athletes in cross-country skiing.
Scope: The IPC ruling applies only to the Winter Paralympics and does not automatically extend to the 2026 Winter Olympics.