Russian athletes will not be permitted to represent their country at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, even if a peace agreement is reached regarding the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. This announcement was confirmed by Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Friday. Coventry emphasized that the IOC’s decision to uphold sanctions, imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, remains unchanged.
The Winter Games are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026. Coventry remarked, “At this stage, nothing would change the Committee’s decision.” This means that athletes holding Belarusian or Russian passports can only compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs). In this status, they will represent themselves rather than their countries, and they are forbidden from using national flags, anthems, or team uniforms. Participation in team events and the opening ceremony is also not allowed.
The IOC has indicated that decisions regarding the participation of AINs in the closing ceremonies will be made during the Games. The Olympics website noted that this decision will take into account that the closing ceremony involves all athletes together, rather than teams. AINs will have a designated team flag and anthem, which notably lacks lyrics. During medal ceremonies, the AIN flag will be displayed, and the AIN anthem will be played.
In the previous 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris, 32 athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports participated across ten different sports. According to the IOC, there were “without any incident on or off the field of play.” However, it is crucial to highlight that athletes who actively support the war or are contracted to military or national security agencies of Russia or Belarus will not be eligible to compete.
On the diplomatic front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that a peace deal, backed by the United States, is “90% ready.” The remaining obstacles are attributed to Russia’s stringent demands and its reluctance to make significant concessions. The implications of these geopolitical tensions continue to affect the landscape of international sport, particularly as the Winter Olympics approach.
