Winter Olympic 2026: The International Olympic Committee has officially granted approval for a select group of Russian. And Belarusian figure skaters to participate as neutral athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics . Marking a significant development in the ongoing debate over the inclusion of competitors from the two nations. Although the IOC has cleared the three skaters, their participation is not yet guaranteed.
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The decision, announced on Thursday. Confirms that Russian skaters Pyotr Gumennik and Adelia Petrosyan, along with Belarusian skater Viktoria Safonova. Successfully passed the IOC’s strict eligibility screening. This review process is designed to ensure that any athlete from Russia. Or Belarus competing in 2026 has no affiliations with military organisations. And has not issued public statements supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Heavily vetted group of competitors from both nations who are permitted to take part under neutral status. A policy first widely implemented during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Competing as a neutral athlete at the Winter Olympics comes with significant restrictions. Under IOC rules, neutral competitors cannot take part in the traditional opening ceremony parade.
Milano Cortina 2026: Neutral Athletes to Compete Without Representing Any Nation
As they are not recognised as representatives of any national delegation. Additionally, any medals they win will not count toward the overall national medal tally. Instead, their results will be recorded separately. Reflecting the IOC’s ongoing effort to strike a balance between individual athletes’ rights to compete and the enforcement of international sanctions responding to the war in Ukraine.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasised this dual-approach policy when it was reaffirmed in late 2024. She explained that the IOC aims to protect athletes who are not connected to the political and military decisions of their governments, while still maintaining firm consequences for Russia and Belarus at the institutional level.
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This neutral-athlete framework was developed to uphold the principles of sport without ignoring the geopolitical realities surrounding the conflict. Belarus, while not directly engaged in combat, played a key logistical role in the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 by allowing Russian troops to use its territory as a launching point.
Olympic 2026: Belarus Faces Winter Olympic 2026 Sanctions Due to Support for Russia
This cooperation placed Belarus under similar Olympic 2026 sanctions, despite its lack of direct military involvement. The IOC continues to monitor both nations closely as the war persists, determining eligibility on an individual basis rather than through blanket approval. Russia’s complicated status within the Olympic movement predates the invasion of Ukraine.
Since 2016, the country has faced a series of bans and restrictions stemming from a large-scale, state-sponsored doping scheme uncovered by investigators. As a result, Russian athletes have competed under various neutral or alternative banners for several consecutive Olympic Games. They appeared under the Olympic flag in 2018.
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Under the designation of the Russian Olympic Committee at Tokyo 2021 and Beijing 2022, and most recently as individual neutral athletes at the 2024 Paris Games. The number of athletes permitted to compete under neutral status has remained limited. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, only 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians were approved to participate after passing rigorous vetting procedures.
Olympic Figure Skating: IOC Maintains Strict Neutrality Standards Ahead of Olympic 2026
The IOC appears to be continuing this cautious approach as the Winter Olympic Games 2026 draw nearer, approving only a small number of figure skaters so far. Additional athletes from both countries may still be evaluated, but the bar for neutrality remains high and the review process strict. This measured approval underscores the IOC’s attempt to navigate an exceptionally complex situation.
On one hand, the organisation aims to uphold the integrity of global sport and ensure that the Olympic Games remain a place for peaceful competition. On the other hand, it recognises the importance of accountability at the institutional level, especially when a nation’s actions violate international norms. Or national recognition that traditionally accompanies Olympic competition.
As preparations intensify for the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes will continue to attract international attention. For the skaters who have been cleared, the invitation represents not only a personal achievement but also a rare opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest winter sports stage—albeit without the flag, anthem.
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