The Olympics always deal with political issues, and the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina are facing one too. IOC President Kirsty Coventry just made it clear that Russian and Belarusian athletes still can’t represent their countries at the games, even if the war in Ukraine ends before the opening ceremony.
According to Outkick, Coventry told the media that the committee won’t change its decision at this point. This means athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under strict rules that have been in place since 2022. “At this stage, nothing would change the Committee’s decision,” he said.
However, athletes from these countries can still participate. They’ll compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, or AINs. This means they can’t use their country’s uniforms, flags, or national anthems during the games.
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Team sports face complete exclusion from the competition
When an AIN wins a medal, the ceremony is a little different. Instead of their national flag and anthem, a special neutral flag is raised, and a unique anthem is played, marking their achievement without officially representing a country. It’s a subtle but meaningful way to recognise their success while respecting international rules.
Team sports, however, operate under a different set of challenges. Unlike individual competitors, teams face stricter regulations and far less leeway when it comes to neutrality. Every player must navigate the complex rules, and penalties for violations are often harsher, reflecting the higher stakes and broader impact of collective competition on the global stage.
Unlike the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, where Russian teams competed as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” after a doping scandal, team sports won’t get this option now. This is a major blow for sports like men’s hockey, where Russia is always a strong medal contender. Athletes in other sports have revealed what they need to unlock massive paydays, showing how important these competitions are for their careers.
The timing makes it nearly impossible to reverse this decision. With only a month left before the games start, almost everything is already set up and the competitors for most events have been confirmed.
The IOC’s sanctions against Russia and Belarus remain active, just as they have been since 2022. Still, Coventry confirmed that the IOC keeps communication open with Russian Olympic officials and continues having conversations with them. Critics of various sports decisions have fired back with messages about changes they’ve seen recently.
Published: Jan 4, 2026 02:15 pm