Paralympians try to focus on Milan Cortina Games amid tensions over Iran war, return of Russian flag

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Athletes at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, the first global sports event since the war in the Middle East began last week, have been trying to block out news of the conflicts and focus on their preparations for the Games that officially start on Friday.

Others have been outspoken about the return of the Russian flag to the global stage and are defending their nation's boycott of Friday's opening ceremony.

The Games that mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics are getting underway amid the ongoing military attacks by the United States, Israel and Iran. The conflicts prompted travel difficulties for some of the nations coming to Italy because of widespread flight disruptions. Iran was due to have one skier at Milan Cortina, although his participation was yet to be confirmed.

“We are here to do a job,” U.S. wheelchair curler Laura Dwyer told The Associated Press on Thursday. “We are in the village, and we are at the venue, and we are working really hard to show up, and to do good things, and represent. So that’s what we are focused on, and no place I’d rather be than this beautiful place with this guy right here and at the Paralympic Games.”

Dwyer is competing with Stephen Emt in the mixed-doubles discipline that is debuting at the Winter Paralympics.

“We are just concerned with the ice, concerned with the stones and the competition,” Emt said. “We know that we are in a good place and we are going to continue to battle for the USA.”

The curling competition began two days ahead of the opening ceremony and other curlers have weighed in about competing amid the conflicts elsewhere.

“To be honest, I don’t really think about it," British curler Jo Butterfield said. “There’s lots of things going on in the world right now, but I’ve been training to do this for a long time and we’re here to curl. I’m a firm believer that sport can rally people, and hopefully some good news stories on the back pages will help the public be happy.”

The opening ceremony will also come amid the boycott of some nations showing solidarity with Ukraine over the return to the Russian flag and anthem.

Russian athletes will compete under their own flag at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade, and the country’s national anthem could be played for gold medalists for the first time on the stage of a major global sporting event since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine was the first to announce that it would boycott the opening ceremony because of Russia, and the International Paralympic Committee says several others are planning not to attend because of political reasons: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania.

“There is war and we are against war,” Latvian curler Polina Rozkova said. "It's not allowed (to have a) country under their own flag when their country is attacking another country. It's our opinion that we are against war. We try to listen less to the news, but of course, everything is terrible and maybe somehow it's also influencing us."

Estonian curler Katlin Riidebach said she was trying to focus on the competition but felt it was important for the Estonian Paralympic Committee to make a stance and boycott the opening ceremony.

“Honestly, in here I don’t want to make a political statement,” Riidebach said. “I know that we have decided not to go to the opening ceremony ... We think it’s important to say it loud that the war is not OK and people should know. And even though we don't want to say it, sports and politics are very engaged, so if athletes can say their opinion, I think we should do it.”

Ahead of the Games, the IPC did not approve an item of the Ukraine uniform because it contained a map that fell within the forbidden categories of “national anthems lyrics, motivational words, public/political messaging or slogans related to national identity.”

The IPC said an alternative uniform was approved within 24 hours after “dialogue” with the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee.

AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

Steve Emt, foreground, and Laura Dwyer, center, of the United States, compete against Yoji Nakajima and Aki Ogawa, of Japan, in a wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Katlin Riidebach, of Estonia, competes in a wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Italy at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Steve Emt, right, and Laura Dwyer, of the United States, bump fists during their wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Japan at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Steve Emt, right, and Laura Dwyer, of the United States, and Yoji Nakajima, left, and Aki Ogawa, of Japan, greet each other after their wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs released veteran right tackle Jawaan Taylor, whose track record of penalties often overshadowed his otherwise solid play in Kansas City, hours after agreeing to trade cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.

While the decision to trade McDuffie was made in large part for the draft capital they received in return, the decision to part with Taylor was driven by the salary cap.

The Chiefs saved $20 million by releasing him ahead of the new league year.

The Chiefs had already worked down their salary cap total by releasing veteran defensive end Mike Danna and restructuring the contract of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Those moves collectively allowed Kansas City to not only get under the cap but created some flexibility to address a number of pressing needs when free agency begins next week.

Taylor had one year left on the four-year, $80 million deal he signed in 2023, when the Chiefs were working to rebuild their offensive line. He helped them win the Super Bowl that season and return to the championship game the following year, but he also committed 49 penalties in 45 games with the Chiefs, more than any other offensive lineman during his tenure.

The Chiefs are expected to start Jaylon Moore at right tackle next season. It will be the second year of his two-year, $30 million deal.

Earlier in the day, the Chiefs agreed with the Rams on a trade that will send McDuffie to the NFC and net Kansas City the 29th overall pick in this year's draft, along with fifth- and sixth-rounders this year and a third-round pick next year.

Three people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was not yet finalized.

McDuffie was a first-round pick in 2022 and entering the final year of his rookie contract, due to make $13.6 million for this coming season. But given the Chiefs' financial situation, it would have been difficult to sign McDuffie to the kind of long-term deal the former All-Pro was seeking, so the Chiefs opted instead to trade him for a package of draft picks.

It is not unlike the move they made in 2022, when they traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. The Chiefs used the package of draft picks they got in return to rebuild their roster with younger players who helped them to three straight Super Bowls.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) gets set to block Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) during an NFL football game, Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken, File)