IOC Confirms Russian Athletes Can Compete at 2026 Winter Olympics Under Neutral Flag

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan under a neutral flag, provided they meet strict eligibility requirements.

“The Executive Board will take the exact same approach that was done in Paris,” IOC president Kirsty Coventry said on Friday, referring to the 2024 Olympics where Russian athletes were restricted to competing under a neutral banner and only in individual events.

To qualify, athletes must prove they have no ties to the Russian military and do not actively support the war in Ukraine.

The IOC introduced these sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The decision to extend the same policy to the upcoming Winter Games was finalized during a board meeting in Milan on Friday. Coventry, who supported the approach during her election as IOC president in March, noted: “I believe that it’s best for our movement to ensure that we have all athletes represented.”

The IOC was satisfied with the limited participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris Olympics, which balanced global representation with Ukraine’s concerns and prevented a potential boycott.

The exact size of the neutral delegation for Milan 2026 will depend on international sports federations, many of which still bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from their competitions.

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