Russian squads, including the national ice hockey team, are likewise banned from participating in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. These games will take place in the combined region of Milano-Cortina, Italy, February 6–22. This decision follows the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The IOC’s limitations prevent any Russian national teams from participating. A dozen or so Russian athletes have received special approval to compete in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics as individuals. These athletes will compete as neutral athletes only after passing an extensive vetting process by the IOC. The same goes for a few dozen Belarusian competitors.
On the international figure skating front, the International Skating Union has cleared four male and four female Russian skaters. They’re all set to skate their hearts out on the ice! These athletes will seek to qualify for the 2026 Winter Games, but do so under a neutral banner.
In response in late March, the IOC expressed that their position supports the need to protect the values enshrined in the Olympic Charter. The IOC has repeatedly stated that permitting Russian teams to participate would breach the IOC charter. This decision is a result of Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukraine’s sovereignty. The IOC emphasized, “Such action constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognised by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter.”
The case of the Belarusian athletes is added to by the fact that Belarus has played an integral role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The IOC stated, “This position reflects the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee because of its annexation of regional sports organisations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.” As a result, Russian and Belarusian athletes will have to compete without their national flags or anthems.
Russian ice hockey teams obviously have a very rich history, having taken gold medals in the last few Olympic Games. They went on to win a gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. In 2022, they won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. All these accomplishments have been clouded by great power rivalry and the sanctions that followed.
The IOC reiterated its commitment to maintaining these sanctions, stating, “The IOC Executive Board recommendation from March 2023 with regard to teams of athletes with a Russian passport remains in place.” They clarified that “a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot be considered a team,” ensuring that the competitive landscape remains fair and consistent.
Even as athletes get ready for the next Winter Olympics, the field keeps changing against a backdrop of heightened international conflict.
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