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IOC Allows Russian Athletes to Compete as Neutrals

9/20/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The IOC will permit some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026, following criteria from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Teams from these nations will be excluded.
Eligibility requires athletes not to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to undergo military ties screening.
Concerns persist regarding the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena's timeline, essential for the Games.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the need for political neutrality in sports.
The L.A. 2028 Olympics will add two weightlifting bodyweight categories to improve athlete safety.

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Story summary

The IOC will permit some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026, following criteria from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Teams from these nations will be excluded.
Eligibility requires athletes not to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to undergo military ties screening.
Concerns persist regarding the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena's timeline, essential for the Games.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the need for political neutrality in sports.
The L.A. 2028 Olympics will add two weightlifting bodyweight categories to improve athlete safety.