Athletes from Russia and Belarus are welcome at the upcoming Milan Olympic Games, but just like last year in Paris only on an individual basis and under a neutral flag. That has the International Olympic Committee Friday decided.
They must abstain from ‘active support’ to the war that Russia ways in Ukraine and, like all other participants, signs to respect the Olympic Charter, which also includes ‘the peace mission of the Olympic Movement’. (White) Russian athletes connected to the army and (white) Russian teams are excluded from participation.
“The IOC board will choose exactly the same approach as in Paris, so it is simply a continuation thereof […] Nothing has changed compared to Paris, “says IOC chairman Kirsty Coventry to AP news agency an explanation on the decision.
Immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international sports world decided to exclude the IOC (White) Russian athletes on explicit advice. But in the run -up to the Paris Olympic Games, the IOC decided to admit individual athletes, because “an overwhelming majority” of athletes from other countries believe that co -athletes should not be punished for the actions of their government. In Paris, 32 ‘neutral’ athletes eventually participated: 17 from Belarus and 15 from Russia.
Israel
There is also increasing pressure to exclude Israel from the Milan’s Olympic Games because of the war in Gaza, but Coventry announced on Friday that there was never talking about that.
Earlier, the IOC had said that Israel did not violate the Olympic charter, as Russia has done with the annexation of areas in the east of Ukraine.
Partly because of the Pro-Palestinian protests during several stages of the last Vuelta, there are concerns about the safety of Israeli participants and fans. But according to Coventry, that does not change the preparation for the Milan Olympic Games that start on 6 February 2026: “The priority of the organizing committee, the host country and for the IOC is guaranteeing safety for all our athletes, fans and everyone who comes into contact with the Games and those processes will be continued and will simply be continued.”