Neutral Path: Russian Athletes at Milano-Cortina 2026

Russian athletes will compete as neutral, independent participants without displaying their national flag or anthem at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, as confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday.

This decision comes after the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023, following its recognition of regional Olympic councils in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, including Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. The suspension was a response to Russia's ongoing military actions in Ukraine since 2022.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated in a press conference that the approach towards Independent Neutral Athletes would mirror that of the Paris 2024 Olympics, emphasizing consistency in handling the situation. "The Executive board will take the exact same approach that was done in Paris. Nothing has changed," she remarked.

(With inputs from agencies.)