Commissioner Glenn Micallef Declines Invitation to Paralympics Opening Ceremony Over Russia Participation

European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef has announced that he will boycott the upcoming opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, citing concerns over the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.

Taking to social media, Micallef said he stands firmly with Paralympians and the values they represent, but described the move to reinstate Russia and Belarus, including the granting of a wild card and fast-tracked participation without qualification, as unacceptable.

He argued that while Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues, he cannot support the return of national symbols such as flags, anthems and uniforms, which he said are inseparable from the ongoing conflict. For this reason, he confirmed that he will not attend the Opening Ceremony.

Micallef stressed that his decision is made out of respect for the athletes, but with clarity about the principles at stake. He added that sport has the power to unite when it stands firmly on principle, but risks division when those principles are compromised, and called on like-minded counterparts to adopt the same position.

#MaltaDaily