Winter Paralympics: Milan Cortina Games to open amid war in Middle East, boycott over Russian flag

VERONA, Italy (AP) — The Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics will officially open later Friday amid the tensions of war in the Middle East and with some countries intending to boycott the opening ceremony because of the return of the Russian flag to the global sports stage.

Ukraine is leading the list of countries not attending the opening ceremony in Verona to protest the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow Russian athletes to compete under their own flag and with their national anthem. The Russian flag hasn’t been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, while the national anthem has not been heard at any Olympics or Paralympics since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.

The opening ceremony will take place at the Arena di Verona, marking the first time a Paralympic ceremony is held at a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient Arena has been retrofitted with new wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms along with other safety upgrades.

The Milan Cortina Games mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics. More than 600 athletes will compete across 79 events in six sports. It is the biggest Winter Paralympics ever, with a record female participation, according to the IPC.

Para cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi is expected to be the only athlete from Iran participating in the Games that begin less than a week after the United States and Israel launched their military attack.

Khatibi was announced as Iran’s flagbearer but he will not actually carry the flag — volunteers will be handed the task for all nations because not all flagbearers will be able to attend the ceremony for logistics and training issues.

Many athletes will miss the opening ceremony as they are located in different competing clusters across Italy. The curling events began on Wednesday.

China arrives looking to establish itself as the main Paralympic powerhouse. The Chinese have topped the medal count in the Summer Paralympics every time since 2004, and four years ago topped the Winter Games for the first time with a record-setting performance.

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

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Athletes from Belarus walk during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Athletes from the United States enter during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Athletes from Russia walk during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Athletes from Russia enter during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Polina Rozkova of Latvia, rides to the position during a wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Great Britain at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Italy's Orietta Berto, left, and Paolo Ioriatti compete against China during a wheelchair curling mixed doubles match at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Polina Rozkova of Latvia, pushes a stone during a wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Great Britain at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Paolo Ioriatti, left, of Italy, and Jinqiao Yang, right, of China, look at curling stones during a wheelchair curling mixed doubles at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Athletes compete during wheelchair curling mixed doubles matches at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

LYON, France (AP) — Forward Jule Brand scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute as OL Lyonnes beat titleholder Arsenal 3-1 to reach the Women’s Champions League final on Saturday.

Goals from captain Wendie Renard and striker Kadidiatou Diani put Lyon 2-0 up at halftime, but Alessia Russo's competition-leading ninth goal looked to have sent the game into extra time.

But Brand latched onto Melchie Dumornay's pass to make it 4-3 on aggregate for record eight-time champion Lyon, which lost the first leg 2-1.

Lyon will face either Bayern Munich or three-time champion Barcelona. They play on Sunday and are locked at 1-1 after the first leg in Germany, when Bayern goalscorer Franziska Kett was sent off for pulling the hair of an opponent.

The final will be in Oslo on May 23.

A frantic opening at Groupama Stadium saw a header from Lyon midfielder Lindsey Heaps ruled out following a video review.

But VAR went Lyon's way midway through the first half when a penalty was awarded after defender Lotte Wubben-Moy fouled Dumornay from behind.

Renard scored the penalty on her second attempt.

Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar saved the first one but the kick was re-taken for encroachment in the area, and Renard sent her the wrong way with her second effort.

Arsenal benefited from two defensive blunders to win the first leg 2-1 in London, but struggled from corners against Lyon.

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

Lyonnes' Wendie Renard, left, gets to the ball ahead of Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, right, during the Women's Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Lyonnes' Wendie Renard, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the Women's Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Arsenal's Smilla Holmberg and Alessia Russo, left, drive the ball past Lyonnes' Selma Bacha, eon the ground, during the Women's Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Lyonnes' Jule Brand, left, scores her side's third goal during the Women's Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Lyonnes' Jule Brand celebrates after scoring her side's third goal during the Women's Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between OL Lyonnes and Arsenal, in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)