Overview
- IOC President Kirsty Coventry told Corriere della Sera that the existing decision will not change even if hostilities end before the Games, allowing only individual neutral entrants.
- The IOC’s criteria exclude team events and bar athletes or support staff who back the conflict, have ties to security forces, or fail anti-doping checks.
- The stance applies to senior athletes from Russia and Belarus across tournaments, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
- On December 11 the IOC advised lifting restrictions for youth competitions, and several international federations have implemented that guidance.
- The Milan–Cortina Winter Games are scheduled for February 6–22, 2026.