IOC says Russians allowed at 2026 Winter Olympics under neutral flag

The International Olympic Committee connected Friday announced that athletes from Russia volition beryllium allowed to vie astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics nether a neutral banner if they conscionable strict conditions.

“The Executive Board volition instrumentality the nonstop aforesaid attack that was done successful Paris,” said IOC president Kirsty Coventry, referring to past year’s Olympics wherever Russian athletes could lone instrumentality portion nether a neutral emblem and successful idiosyncratic events.

The athletes were besides required to acquisition checks to beryllium they did not actively enactment the warfare successful Ukraine oregon person immoderate links with the army.

The sanctions were introduced successful effect to Russia’s penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

The determination taken astatine a gathering successful Milan connected Friday to instrumentality with the aforesaid argumentation was expected. Coventry had played a portion successful the adoption of past year’s solution.

“I judge that it’s champion for our question to guarantee that we person each athletes represented,” Coventry said successful March erstwhile she was elected caput of the IOC.

The constricted beingness of Russians and Belarusians successful the French superior satisfied the Olympic body: bringing unneurotic athletes from astir the satellite portion avoiding a boycott by Ukraine and its closest allies.

The size of the neutral delegation present depends connected the planetary sports federations, which are liable for the qualification process and immoderate of which proceed to prohibition Russians and Belarusians from their competitions.

The station IOC says Russians allowed astatine 2026 Winter Olympics nether neutral flag appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.