Russia and Belarus will participate with a neutral flag in the 2026 Winter Games
Israel will not be expelled from the Winter Olympics and will be able to compete under its flag
Athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to participate in the next edition of the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina, under a neutral flag.
“The executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will adopt the same approach as in Paris 2024 with neutral athletes,” said Zimbabwean Kirsty on Friday IOC President Coventry at the press conference following the Executive Board meeting in Milan, northern Italy.
“We believe things went very well in Paris, and we must ensure that there is justice and equity,” the President added.
Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under the AIN acronym will not be allowed to support the war against Ukraine.
Olympic basketball legend Pau Gasol will head a committee to review participating athletes seeking to compete in next year’s Winter Olympics.
AIN athletes will not participate in the delegation parade during the Opening Ceremony, as they are individual athletes. However, they will be given the opportunity to experience the event.
The decision on the AIN's participation in the Closing Ceremony will be made during the Games, taking into account that it is not teams that participate in it, but all the athletes together.
Israel will not be excluded from the 2026 Winter Olympics
The Swiss Chrostophe Dubi, executive director of the Olympic Games, also confirmed on Wednesday that Israel will not be excluded from the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, as it "respects the Olympic Charter", the official document of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that unites the fundamental principles of Olympism.
Coventry also revealed that the Executive Committee spoke about the numerous armed conflicts taking place in the world and highlighted the importance of sport as a vehicle for peace.
"We have talked about conflicts. There are many. We have talked about all the ones we know. Each board member was shocked by the images seen every day. Now more than ever,"The sports movement must show the good it does for humanity. We must reaffirm our commitment to peace," he noted.