International Olympic Committee authorizes Russian athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics
The world federations for bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge, along with the International Skating Union, have banned the participation of athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. This decision follows the ongoing aggression against Ukraine, a violation of the Olympic Charter according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The same restrictions apply to athletes from Belarus, and medals won by Russians and Belarusians will not be included in the medal table. The IOC had previously suspended Russia's Olympic Committee due to the recognition of the four Ukrainian territories of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Saporishshya.
In biathlon, the participation of neutral athletes is excluded, and the pressure is on several winter sports organizations to pave the way for the return of Russians and Belarusians as neutral participants. However, this is due to Russia's success in winter sports, but also as a result of the scandal of state-organized doping at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
Individual athletes from both countries may still be allowed to compete in individual disciplines, although the decisions regarding this matter will be made by the relevant international federations. The International Ski Federation (FIS) has not yet discussed the admission of Russians and Belarusians in alpine skiing, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined.
The IOC has announced that Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in the next year's Winter Olympics under a neutral flag. However, the decision about Russian and Belarusian individual athletes participating under a neutral flag at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy will be made by the IOC, but no exact date for this decision has been specified in the available information.
The national anthems of Russia and Belarus will not be played at the Winter Games, and the display of national symbols for Russians and Belarusians is prohibited at Olympic venues. Only a small number of athletes from Russia and Belarus are expected to participate in the Winter Games in Italy.
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, announced that the IOC would soon issue a statement on the many conflicts around the world, emphasizing that sport must increasingly commit itself to peace. The IOC considers this recognition a violation of the Olympic Charter, and the sanctions against Russia and Belarus are due to their ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
The pressure is on several winter sports organizations to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutral participants, but the decisions regarding this matter will be made in the coming months. The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will be held from 6th to 22nd of February 2026.
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