As the 2026 Winter Olympics are set to take place in Milano Cortina, the global sporting community continues to grapple with the enduring repercussions of geopolitical conflicts, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Officially, Russia remains banned from participating under its national flag, anthem, or colors, a consequence of its government’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict. However, a contingent of athletes from Russia and Belarus will still appear at these Games competing under a neutral flag. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established a unique pathway granting some athletes the opportunity to participate individually, provided they meet strict criteria. This nuanced approach reflects ongoing debates about fairness, politics, and the Olympic spirit amid tense international relations. The following details explore how these ‘neutral’ athletes qualify, the decisions made by sports federations, the ramifications of bans, and the perspectives from Ukrainian and international stakeholders.
Qualifying as a ‘Neutral’ Athlete at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The process for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals this year is built on complex assessments and strict eligibility requirements. While the international bans imposed on Russia and Belarus stem from their governments’ actions, individual athletes who can demonstrate full independence from state influence have a shot at participating, provided they adhere to the IOC’s rigorous standards.
Criteria and Screening Procedures
The primary basis for athlete eligibility involves the athlete’s personal conduct and political affiliations, emphasizing the importance of distancing oneself from any war support. The IOC mandates a comprehensive review, which includes examining athletes’ social media activity and publicly available statements. Athletes must publicly disavow any support for the war in Ukraine; any public expressions of backing or ties to the conflict lead to disqualification.
The screening process is performed by a dedicated IOC-sponsored panel that scrutinizes social media posts, interviews, and other relevant information. This process also explicitly excludes team sports, meaning athletes competing in team disciplines such as hockey or curling are not eligible to participate as neutrals. The overarching goal is to ensure that only athletes who are truly independent and uninvolved in political support for the conflict are allowed to compete.
Implications for Competition and Fair Play
The inclusion of individual neutral athletes underscores the fine line between political protest and sporting neutrality. Athletes from Russia and Belarus who have qualified as neutrals include both those with no known allegiances and some whose records prompted controversy. The IOC’s stance is designed to uphold the integrity of competition, while also recognizing the complex realities athletes face. Notably, this is not without controversy, as critics argue that allowing such athletes to compete—even under a neutral flag—risks undermining the collective punishment of their country’s government.
The sanctions are also intended to prevent participating athletes from gaining a competitive advantage or signaling political support. So, if a neutral Russian athlete wins gold, their achievement will be honored with a special, wordless anthem commissioned by the IOC. But these athletes are barred from participating in the opening ceremony, further symbolizing their separate status. This approach mirrors the protocol used during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where similar arrangements were employed.
The Stance of International Sports Federations and Their Decisions
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The decision to grant Russian athletes neutral status isn’t uniform across all sports federations. Each federation independently assesses whether to allow athletes from banned countries to compete under neutral status, based on their policies and the prevailing international climate.
Federation Differentiation and Reactions
The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) is among the organizations that did not permit Russian athletes to qualify as neutrals, explicitly excluding them from the competition pathway. Elana Meyers Taylor, a prominent athlete and five-time Olympic medalist, expressed support for this stance, stating, “Sport should be used to promote peace and fair play, and we need to stand firm against those that don’t support those values.”
Similarly, other federations such as the World Curling Federation and the International Ice Hockey Federation also barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from team sports entirely, owing to policies aligning with the broader bans. Nonetheless, some international federations, like the International Skating Union and the International Ski Mountaineering Federation, did permit Russian athletes to qualify as neutrals, reflecting differing perspectives on the matter.
The courts have also played a role; Russian athletes and respective federations have contested bans through legal channels, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport. While some competitions saw Russian attempts to overturn bans, the overarching sanction remained in place for many disciplines, aligning with the IOC’s stance on accountability and political neutrality.
Effects of the Bans on Russian Athletes and the Overall Competition
The bans imposed on Russian athletes began after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, primarily due to allegations of state-sponsored doping. Despite this, Russian athletes who could demonstrate they were not involved in doping or state support were often allowed to compete under a neutral flag. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, over 200 Russian athletes participated, securing a total of 32 medals, including five gold. This presence was complicated by subsequent geopolitical developments, notably Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2023, which led to stricter sanctions and further restrictions.
Following the invasion, Russian athletes faced a new wave of bans, with only some allowed to qualify as neutrals. The process has become more selective and scrutinized. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, 15 Russians competed as neutrals, with two of them winning medals, including a gold medal in men’s trampoline by Belarussian gymnast Ivan Litvinovich. The stricter stance reflects the IOC’s desire to balance athletic participation with diplomatic considerations.
Participation Outlook for an Array of Sports and the Dilemma of Exclusions
Russian athletes’ participation will not be uniform across all sports, with notable exclusions based on the governing bodies’ policies. For team sports, such as ice hockey, Russian athletes are excluded entirely due to broad bans, including high-profile stars like Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, who will not compete in Pyeongchang or Milan. Similarly, in figure skating, Russian dominance in past Olympics—winning gold and silver in women’s singles—will be absent this time around, except for one athlete, Adeliia Petrosian, who qualified as a neutral.
The list of Russian athletes competing in individual sports at the Milano Cortina Games is relatively short but significant. Athletes include:
- Alpine skiing: Yulia Pleshkova and Simon Efimov
- Cross-country skiing: Savelii Korostelev and Daria Nepryaeva
- Figure skating: Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik
- Luge: Daria Olesik and Pavel Repilov
- Short track speed skating: Ivan Posashkov and Alena Krylova
- Ski mountaineering: Nikita Filippov
- Speed skating: Kseniia Korzhova and Anastasiia Semenova
This limited roster underscores the significant restrictions that still exist for Russian athletes, driven by ongoing political tensions and the inherent controversy surrounding their participation.
Responses from Ukraine and the Broader International Community
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The Ukrainian response to Russia’s continued participation as neutrals has been one of skepticism and outrage. Ukrainian athletes and officials argue that athletes from Russia cannot be considered truly neutral because their participation tacitly endorses or condones the war against Ukraine.
In December, the International Luge Federation revoked the eligibility of three Russian athletes due to doubts about their neutrality. Despite this, controversy persisted when some Russian athletes competed at a World Cup event in Lake Placid, New York, shortly after the bans. Ukrainian luger Anton Dukach expressed a firm stance, stating, “They are not neutral. They are supporting the war against Ukraine, against civilians, against family members, against me.”
The perception among many Ukrainians is that the existing arrangements fail to adequately punish or discourage Russian government support, raising questions about fairness and the true spirit of international sporting collaboration. The advocacy groups such as Ukrsportbase have also been vocal in condemning Russian athletes’ participation, accusing some of participating after visiting the annexed Crimean region, an action widely considered a violation of international law.
The ongoing debate encapsulates broader geopolitical tensions, with sports serving as both a platform for diplomacy and political statements. As the 2026 Winter Olympics unfold in Milan and Cortina, the world will closely watch how these complex issues continue to influence competitive fairness, athlete integrity, and the broader role of sports amid global conflicts.
