sports
май 13, 2026
IOC returns anthem and flag to Belarus, but not to Russia
The body suspended the restrictions on Belarusian athletes determined after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
TL;DR
- The IOC has suspended restrictions on Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete with anthem and flag.
- Russian athletes still face conditions, including competing as neutral individuals without supporting the conflict.
- These policy changes pave the way for a Belarusian delegation at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and Winter Youth Olympics.
- The IOC confirmed that the 2030 Winter Olympics in France will only include snow and ice sports.
- The IOC has excluded sports like cross-country, trail, cyclocross, and gravel from the 2030 Winter Olympics program.