Peace deal or not Russia shut out of Olympic symbols
Decision locked in by IOC
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, even if a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is reached before the Games begin.
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry said the policy is final, according to an interview she gave to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“At this stage, nothing would change the Committee’s decision,” Coventry said, referring to Russia’s continued exclusion from national representation at the Games scheduled for Feb. 6, 22.
Sanctions rooted in the war
The restrictions stem from sanctions imposed after Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Those measures remain in effect and are not tied to ongoing diplomatic negotiations, Coventry said.
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Asked whether the IOC has been in direct contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Coventry said, “The channel is open with the Olympic Committees of Russia,” without elaborating further, according to Corriere della Sera.
The same sanctions apply to Belarusian athletes, reflecting Belarus’s political and military alignment with Moscow.
Neutral athletes only
Under IOC rules, athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports may only compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, known as AINs.
According to the International Olympic Committee’s official eligibility guidelines, neutral athletes may not use national flags, anthems or official team uniforms. They are also barred from team events and from marching in the opening ceremony.
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The IOC says a decision on whether neutral athletes will be permitted to take part in the closing ceremony will be made during the Games, noting that the event is not organized by national teams.
Strict eligibility rules
Neutral athletes compete under a designated AIN flag and anthem, which does not contain lyrics. “During the victory ceremonies, the AIN flag will be flown and the AIN anthem will be played,” the IOC states on its website.
The committee also excludes athletes who actively support the war in Ukraine or who are employed by Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies.
According to the IOC, 32 athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports competed as neutrals across 10 sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with no reported disciplinary or security incidents.
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Peace talks do not change Olympic policy
The IOC’s position comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a US backed peace proposal is “90% ready,” while accusing Russia of refusing to soften key demands.
Despite those developments, the IOC has made clear that its Olympic policy for Milan is based on governance principles and athlete eligibility standards, not on shifting geopolitical negotiations.
Sources, Corriere della Sera, International Olympic Committee, Reuters
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