Olympic Committee Urges Winter Sports Federations to Admit Russians and Belarusians

The IOC is pressuring winter sports federations to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in qualifications for next year’s Winter Olympics. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine over three years ago, many Russian athletes have been excluded from major winter sports federations, such as in cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and biathlon. Current competition formats suggest that without policy changes, these athletes will not be able to compete at the next Winter Olympics.

As of today, both the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the International Ski Federation (FIS) have strict bans in place against Russian and Belarusian athletes. However, the IOC's recent initiative emphasizes a need for a resolution that permits them to qualify for the games. Sources indicate that the IOC has been clear in its communications with both federations, hoping for a resolution that would allow these athletes to compete under neutral flags.

An IOC representative cited the successful inclusion of neutral athletes at the Summer Olympics in Paris as a model for upcoming games, expressing hope to implement a similar system for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. While the current status is that Russian and Belarusian athletes remain suspended, discussions are prelude to potentially allowing them to participate if qualifying conditions are met.

IBU President Olle Dahlin confirmed the discussions, stating, "There seems to be an understanding from the IOC's side that it could be beneficial to see a structure similar to what happened at the Paris games for the Winter Olympics." The International Olympic Committee is expected to take a definitive decision regarding the status of these athletes in the lead-up to the 2026 Winter Olympics.