Iran's Sole Paralympic Competitor Withdrawn Amid War

Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, Iran's only competitor, has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina due to safety issues arising from the ongoing war in the Middle East. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Friday that Khatibi Mianaei, 23, was unable to travel safely to Italy to compete in two cross-country skiing events.

IPC President Andrew Parson expressed disappointment, stating that it is heartbreaking for Khatibi Mianaei, who has dedicated years of training to this event. The IPC has been working to find alternative routes for safe passage for the Iranian delegation, but the risks to human life remain high.

Khatibi Mianaei's absence means that Iran's flag will not be present during the opening ceremony. Parson highlighted that this situation marks the third time in four Paralympic Winter Games that conflict has disrupted participation, referencing previous conflicts such as Russia's annexation of Crimea and its invasion of Ukraine.