Russian, Belarusian athletes to compete neutrally in 2026 Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee has announced that Russians will participate in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games as neutral, independent athletes without the use of the national anthem or flag, while still being subject to the same restrictions as the Paris Summer Games last year.

Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 because it had recognized regional Olympic councils for the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia that had allegedly violated the Olympic Charter.

“We also discussed AINs, or Independent Neutral Athletes.” IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated at a press conference that “this will not be anything new.” The executive board will approach the 2024 Olympics in Paris with the same strategy. Nothing has changed.

Russian and Belarusian athletes who pass the qualifying stage will first be checked for any affiliations with the Russian military or support for the Ukrainian conflict, both of which will exclusion them.

Russian competition teams are prohibited. Belarus has served as a staging area for the Ukrainian invasion.

After passing rigorous IOC vetting, only a select few Russian and Belarusian athletes were permitted to participate as AINs in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Without the Belarusian or Russian flag or anthem, they competed. Instead, they participated in a non-judgmental sport.

The International Skating Union recently granted four Russian figure skaters their first official Olympic qualification, which will take place on February 6, 2026, in Italy.