Estonian broadcaster to not air Paralympics events featuring Russian and Belarusian athletes

The Estonian Public Broadcasting company Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR) will not broadcast competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in which Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under their national flags.

According to Ukrinform, this was stated by ERR's Head of Sports, Riivo Saarna, as reported on the broadcaster's website.

"Estonian Public Broadcasting unequivocally condemns the normalization of the actions of aggressor states through sport and the Olympic movement and denounces the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games under the flags of aggressor states," Saarna said.

He noted that the broadcaster currently plans to air the live opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games for viewers. However, during these broadcasts, audiences will be informed about the decisions of international sports organizations and the background regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.

"At the same time, this issue, together with possible reactions during live ceremony broadcasts, is under discussion in other public-service television channels of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and depending on the outcome of those decisions, we are prepared to expand restrictions on Paralympic Games broadcasts as well," Saarna added.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) stated that six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina under their national flags.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games a disgrace.