Polish Broadcaster TVP to Cut Paralympic Feed During Russian, Belarusian Appearances

WARSAW, March 5 – Poland's public broadcaster, TVP, announced it will interrupt its live coverage of the XIX Winter Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina whenever athletes from Russia or Belarus appear on screen. The move is a direct protest against the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision to allow competitors from those nations to participate with full national symbols.

In a statement, TVP outlined its plan: during the opening ceremony, the broadcast will cut away the moment Russian or Belarusian delegations are shown. The screen will instead display a message expressing solidarity with Ukraine. The same policy will apply to medal ceremonies.

"If a Polish athlete wins silver or bronze, and the gold medalist is from Russia or Belarus, we will show the ceremony only until the point their anthem is played or flag raised. Then, we will end our transmission," the broadcaster stated.

The Games run from March 6 to 15. The IPC fully reinstated the Russian Paralympic Committee in September 2025, clearing the way for Russian athletes to compete under their own flag and anthem. TVP's decision underscores the enduring political divisions surrounding international sport, framing its broadcast as a conscious editorial stance rather than a comprehensive sporting record.