International Olympic Committee Permits Russian Athletes to Compete in the 2026 Winter Games under a Neutral Banner
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it will be implementing stringent checks on Russian athletes participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, ensuring they do not offer any support for Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine.
This decision comes after a meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Milan, where the board members discussed the ongoing sanctions against Russia, which were first imposed following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The specific details of the checks on athletes have not been disclosed yet.
IOC President Thomas Bach's spokesperson, Mark Coventry, made a statement after the meeting, explaining that the Executive Board plans to follow the same approach as in Paris. However, the exact nature of this approach remains unclear.
It is known that the checks will involve scrutinising any links athletes may have with the Russian military. Athletes will also be checked for any links with the Russian military, in addition to ensuring they do not support Russia's war in Ukraine.
Despite the ongoing sanctions, there is no publicly available precise date yet when the IOC will officially announce its decision regarding the participation of Russian athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The sanctions against Russia remain in effect, and it is uncertain how they will impact the participation of Russian athletes in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The IOC's decision to impose these checks follows international condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine. The checks on athletes are a part of the international community's efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to ensure that the 2026 Winter Olympics are a peaceful and fair event for all participating nations.
