The IOC named the conditions for the admission of Russians to the Olympic Games in 2026

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to participate in the Olympic Games in Milan in 2026 on the same terms. A press release with this information was published on September 19 on the website of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete under a neutral flag. However, Russia and Belarus will not be able to participate in the team competitions.

In addition, the IOC indicated that athletes who actively support the fighting in Ukraine, as well as athletes working under contract with the Russian or Belarusian armed forces or national security agencies, will not be allowed to participate in the competition.

Participants competing under a neutral flag, like other athletes, will have to comply with all IOC anti-doping requirements.

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On September 19, the IOC announced the validity of the previous principles of participation of Russian athletes under a neutral flag in competitions. Later that day, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said that the IOC's statement on maintaining the previous approach to admitting Russians was expected.

On September 18, the IOC explained its decision not to suspend athletes from Israel by saying that they peacefully coexist with competitors from Palestine. It is noted that this statement was made after the Spanish authorities called for the suspension of Israeli athletes along with Russian ones.

On the same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the IOC for double standards in relation to Russia and Israel. He stated that Russia opposes the politicization of sports.

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