Russia will not compete under its flag at the 2026 Olympics, even if the war ends — IOC.

The International Olympic Committee has made it clear that the formula for the participation of Russian athletes in the 2026 Winter Games will remain unchanged. Even a possible truce will not be grounds for revising the conditions. It is exclusively about individual admission in a neutral status — without a flag, anthem, and team representation.

This statement was made by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, confirming: the committee’s position was formed in advance and is not tied to short-term political scenarios. For the Olympic movement, the stability of the rules is more important than reacting to external signals.

The IOC continues to maintain a working dialogue with national Olympic committees, including the structures of Russia and Israel. The discussions primarily focus on compliance with the Olympic truce and procedural details — the participation of athletes in ceremonies, access to infrastructure, and the format of admission to competitions.

At the same time, the basic restrictions remain strict.

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be able to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Games, as well as in team disciplines. Their results will not be included in the overall medal count. This is exactly the same model that was previously applied — including at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The number of admitted neutral athletes will be determined by international sports federations. It is at this level that the greatest heterogeneity of decisions remains. Some federations still adhere to the most restrictive approach, complicating the preparation of athletes and the planning of Olympic starts.

For the IOC, this creates an additional balancing factor: the committee sets the framework, but the actual filling of these frameworks remains with the relevant organizations.

The figure of Kirsty Coventry herself deserves special attention. She became the first woman and the first representative of Africa to hold the position of IOC President. Her leadership comes at a time when sports increasingly exist less in isolation from global politics, conflicts, and sanction regimes.

In such conditions, the head of the IOC requires not only diplomacy but also the ability to maintain a clear line, not succumbing to pressure from states and lobbying groups. The decision to maintain a neutral format, despite possible changes in the external environment, demonstrates precisely this approach.

The context around Olympic decisions remains tense. The recent liquidation in Ukraine of Mikhail Mishin, previously mentioned as the “first minister of youth, sports, and tourism of the DPR,” once again reminded how closely intertwined sports, war, and politics are today. Even formally apolitical institutions are forced to take into account the reality in which symbols and participation become part of a broader conflict.

For the international sports community, the IOC’s position serves as a guideline. It shows that admission rules do not depend on situational statements and are not revised under the influence of short-term events. In this sense, the 2026 Winter Games will be a continuation of an already formed model — with strict restrictions and emphasized neutrality.

In conditions where sports are increasingly used as a tool of pressure or legitimization, the consistency of decisions becomes of key importance. And this process is closely monitored not only by athletes and federations but also by countries for which the Olympic theme has long gone beyond stadiums and arenas.

That is why such decisions remain in the focus of attention of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, where international sports are considered as part of the global political and social context.