A boycott, pre-recorded video segments replacing traditional athlete parades and the participation of less than half of the eligible nations: the Games in Mailand and Cortina d’Ampezzo opened after a cool and politically charged demonstrate. The return of the Russian national colors to the world of sport cast a shadow over the celebratory atmosphere, turning what should have been a grand jubilee into a farce, even as a vibrant, electronically-infused ceremony attempted to ignite the spirit of competition in Verona’s historic amphitheater.

Only 28 of the 55 nations registered for the Games were present at the opening ceremony. Numerous seats in the arena remained empty as Italian President Sergio Mattarella officially declared the Games open at 9:19 PM local time, delivering the traditional welcoming address. Twenty-five minutes later, Italian para-athletes Francesca Porcellato in Cortina and Gianmaria Dal Maistro in Mailand simultaneously lit the Paralympic flames.

The Russian flag was carried into the arena at position 44, met with scattered boos from a volunteer. Shortly after, against explicit wishes for its exclusion, the Ukrainian flag also made an appearance, drawing a resounding applause from the audience. Germany and numerous other nations opted to abstain from attending the ceremony in solidarity with Ukraine.

“Four years ago, I said I was appalled by what was happening in the world,” International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons stated in his address. “In a world where some countries are better known under the names of their heads of state, I prefer to know countries under the names of their athletes.”

Seven countries, including Ukraine and the Baltic states, remained absent as a protest against the reinstatement of Russian and Belarusian athletes. Other nations, such as Germany, officially cited the logistical challenges of traveling between the various competition venues and Verona, as well as the start of competitions on Saturday, as reasons for their absence. German Sports Minister Christiane Schenderlein also canceled her visit.

Instead of the traditional athlete parade, Italian monoski racer Anna-Lena Forster and ice hockey veteran Jörg Wedde waved their flags in brief video segments recorded earlier in the week at their respective competition sites. Several other countries opted not to create video segments at all.

The Paralympic torch was lit ten days prior to the opening ceremony in Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, the birthplace of the Games for athletes with disabilities. A total of 501 people carried the flame to Verona, including DBS Honorary President Friedhelm Julius Beucher, long jump world record holder Markus Rehm, and long-time national team director Frank-Thomas Hartleb, who were honored on Friday afternoon on the Ponte Nuovo bridge.

Forster watched the opening ceremony from the German House in Cortina, along with the other 40 athletes and eight guides of Team Germany, who are competing in Mailand and Tesero. Due to space constraints, only two athletes and officials were permitted to attend the opening ceremony in person. The flags of the nations were carried to the sounds of Italian EDM band Meduza by volunteers.

These Games, marking the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics since their debut in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, are set to break records. A total of 79 medal events will be contested across six sports until March 15th, with 611 participating athletes from 55 nations surpassing the previous record of 564 participants from 48 countries at Pyeongchang 2018.

Among them are six Russian and four Belarusian athletes who received wildcards, a decision that has sparked significant political debate. Iran canceled its participation at the last minute after safe travel could not be guaranteed for its sole athlete, cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.