Russian Athletes Allowed to Compete at 2026 Winter Olympics Under Neutral Flag
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Russian Athletes Allowed to Compete at 2026 Winter Olympics Under Neutral Flag
Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy under a neutral banner if they meet strict conditions. The IOC’s decision, which it made at a meeting in Milan on Friday, had been widely expected. The size of the neutral delegation in 2026 will depend on individual sports federations.
“The Executive Board will take the exact same approach that was done in Paris,” IOC president Kirsty Coventry said, referring to last year’s Paris Olympics, where Russian athletes could only take part under a neutral flag and in individual events.
At the Paris Games, athletes were also required to undergo checks to prove they did not actively support the war in Ukraine or have any links with the army, restrictions introduced after the 2022 invasion.
The IOC’s decision, which it made at a meeting in Milan on Friday, had been widely expected.
“I believe that it’s best for our movement to ensure that we have all athletes represented,” Coventry said in March when she was elected head of the IOC.
The limited presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Paris last year was seen by the IOC as a success, allowing the Games to avoid boycotts by Ukraine and allied nations.
The size of the neutral delegation in 2026 will depend on individual sports federations, some of which continue to bar Russian and Belarusian competitors from their events.
IOC says Russians allowed at 2026 Winter Olympics under neutral flag like Paris 2024
Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics under a neutral banner if they meet strict conditions. The sanctions were introduced in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The size of the neutral delegation now depends on the international sports federations, which are responsible for the qualification process.
“The Executive Board will take the exact same approach that was done in Paris,” said IOC president Kirsty Coventry, referring to last year’s Olympics, where Russian athletes could only take part under a neutral flag and in individual events.
The athletes were also required to undergo checks to prove they did not actively support the war in Ukraine or have any links with the army.
The sanctions were introduced in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The decision taken at a meeting in Milan on Friday to stick with the same policy was expected. Coventry had played a part in the adoption of last year’s solution.
“I believe that it’s best for our movement to ensure that we have all athletes represented,” Coventry said in March when she was elected head of the IOC.
The limited presence of Russians and Belarusians in the French capital satisfied the Olympic body: bringing together athletes from around the world while avoiding a boycott by Ukraine and its closest allies.
The size of the neutral delegation now depends on the international sports federations, which are responsible for the qualification process and some of which continue to ban Russians and Belarusians from their competitions.
Published on Sep 19, 2025