• Russian athletes will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics under a neutral flag.
• Participation requires athletes to pass vetting for any military affiliations.
• The decision maintains sanctions established following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• International sports federations will have a role in athlete qualification.
• Similar policies were applied during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics under a neutral flag. This announcement echoes the policies established for the Paris Summer Games in 2024, emphasizing that athletes from these nations must participate without national colors or anthems, according to CBS News and Channel News Asia.

During a press conference, IOC President Kirsty Coventry reiterated that a rigorous vetting process would be implemented to ascertain that participating athletes do not have any connections with the Russian military or actively support the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These measures were introduced after the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 for recognizing sports councils in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, as per Al Jazeera and Dawn.

The number of athletes who will ultimately participate under the neutral banner depends significantly on decisions made by the respective international sports federations, which have varying stances on Russian and Belarusian inclusion. Some federations, including the International Ski Federation (FIS), have maintained an outright ban, presenting significant barriers to athlete participation, according to CBS News and Dawn.

This arrangement follows the mixed outcomes from limited participation at the Paris Games, where a select few athletes managed to compete under similar circumstances. The IOC aims to foster a global representation of athletes while navigating the complexities resulting from geopolitical tensions, as noted by Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.