Particle.news

Download on the App Store

IOC Allows Russian and Belarusian Athletes to Compete at 2026 Winter Olympics as Neutrals

Participation hinges on strict conditions, including a ban on flags and team events plus individual vetting by an IOC panel.

Overview

  • The IOC Executive Board approved the policy on September 19 at its meeting in Milan.
  • Competitors from Russia and Belarus may enter only as individual neutral athletes with no national flags or anthems.
  • Team events remain off-limits, and athletes linked to the military or who actively support the invasion will be excluded.
  • An IOC eligibility review committee will assess entries, with FIG president and IOC member Morinari Watanabe named to the panel.
  • International federations are taking different approaches, with the ISU allowing AIN entries to Olympic qualifiers while the FIL and IBSF continue to bar them.