Iran's lone athlete withdrawn from Paralympic Games amid regional conflict

Iran's sole representative at the Milan-Cortina Paralympics has withdrawn from the competition due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to the International Paralympic Committee, which announced the decision on Friday.

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Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, a 23-year-old athlete, was set to participate in two cross-country skiing events but is unable to travel safely to Italy due to the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel, as stated by IPC president Andrew Parsons.

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Parsons expressed his disappointment, stating that it is disheartening for Aboulfazl to miss his third Paralympic Winter Games at Milano Cortina 2026, especially after years of training and dedication, and that the IPC's sympathies are with the athlete during this challenging time.

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The IPC president, a 49-year-old Brazilian, revealed that the committee and the Games organisers had been working to find alternative routes for the safe passage of the Iran delegation since the war broke out last Saturday, but ultimately decided that the risk to human life was too high.

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As a result of Khatibi Mianaei's absence, Iran's flag will not be represented in the athlete parade during the opening ceremony on Friday.

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During a press conference in Cortina on Thursday, Parsons described the Middle East war as a "breach of the Olympic truce" and noted that it marks the third time in four Paralympic Winter Games that a conflict has erupted between the Olympics and Paralympics.

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Parsons drew parallels with Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its invasion of Ukraine four years ago, highlighting the recurring pattern of conflict during this period.

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IPC communications officer Craig Spence stated on Thursday that the organisation aims to focus on the athletes who have been training for four years to showcase their abilities to the world throughout the entire Paralympic Games.

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The Paralympic Games will feature athletes competing in six different sports across three sites in northern Italy until March 15, following closely on the heels of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.