Without the flag and hymn: the IOC voiced the conditions for Russians and Belarus at the 2026 Olympics

To spread: The International Olympic Committee has left restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus. They will only act as neutral athletes without state symbolism. This solution is repeated by the approach applied during Paris Games. According to Reuters, the IOC confirmed that in the Winter Olympic Games in 2026 in Milan and Cortin, Russian and Belarusian athletes will act as independent neutral participants. This means the lack of flag, hymn and any official teams.

IOC Kirsti President Kirsti stressed that the organization did not change its position. "We also talked about independent neutral athletes. There will be nothing new. The executive council will apply exactly the same approach as in Paris. Nothing has changed," she said. The IOC specified that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to participate in competitions only after careful checking.

They will be removed if there are connections with the Russian military or support of the war against Ukraine. At the same time, team teams from both countries are strictly forbidden in winter games. The sanctions remain in force since October 2023, when the IOC suspended the membership of the Olympic Committee of Russia. The reason was that the Russian side recognized regional sports structures in the occupied territories of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions.

The IOC emphasized that such actions are contrary to the Olympic Charter. Recall that during the summer games in Paris in 2024, individual athletes from Russia and Belarus were already allowed to act as "AIN" (independent neutral athletes). They were strictly tested, after which they performed without a flag and anthem. It is for this scenario that the Winter Olympiad-2026 is planned.

Now the International Snamers Union has approved the participation of four Russian skaters in qualifying selections in the Olympiad. The competition in Milan and Cortin will begin on February 6, 2026. The size of the neutral delegation will be determined by international sports federations. Some of them continue to retain restrictions for representatives of Russia and Belarus. We will remind, Belarus became a key bridgehead for the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.