Airstrikes involving Israel and the United States against Iran, followed by Iranian strikes on neighboring countries, breached a United Nations-backed Olympic truce that called for a suspension of hostilities through March 15. The clashes have cast a shadow over the Milan–Cortina Winter Paralympic Games, which opened as more than 660 elite athletes with disabilities — including delegations from Iran, Israel and the United States — gathered in Italy.
The violence has disrupted travel for some athletes and their families. Australian Paralympic alpine skier Michael Milton said his wife and two teenage children were stranded in Doha, Qatar, after their flight was turned back. They spent about 24 hours at the airport before being given a hotel room. Milton told NPR that his family “would love to get out of Doha and get to Italy,” but there was no timeline. Asked whether he feared for their safety, he said he hoped Doha’s air defenses would hold and that while he would prefer they were not there, he was not currently concerned for their safety.
The idea of an Olympic truce dates to the ninth century B.C., when Greek rulers paused conflicts so athletes could travel and compete. The practice was revived by the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations in the early 1990s during intense fighting in the Balkans. Despite that legacy, Olympic truces have often been violated; for example, Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022 just as the Winter Paralympics were set to open in Beijing.
Looking ahead to Paris 2026 qualifying, Iran and Israel each have qualified a single athlete: Iran’s Abolfazl Khatibi, 23, entered in para cross-country skiing, and Israel’s Sheina Vaspi, 24, expected to compete in para-alpine events. NPR contacted the International Paralympic Committee for information about those athletes and their status but had not received an immediate response.
The Milan–Cortina Games have also been marked by diplomatic tension unrelated to the recent strikes. The International Paralympic Committee reversed a policy that had required Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete neutrally since 2022, allowing them to participate under their national flags. That decision represented a notable shift in Olympic and Paralympic policy and prompted protests: at least six countries announced they would boycott the opening ceremonies in Verona on March 6.
As the Paralympics proceed, organizers and athletes face the challenge of competing amid regional instability and diplomatic disputes that have reached into the sporting arena.