US EditionIOC Urges Sports Bodies to Let Russian Youth Teams and Athletes Compete Again with Flag and Anthem
The IOC urges youth sports bodies to allow Russian teams to compete with national symbols, citing athletes' rights and recommending this for Dakar 2026 and beyond.
- On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee advised governing bodies to let Russia and Belarus youth teams compete with their full national flag and anthem, including at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
- Citing athletes' rights, the International Olympic Committee said `athletes have a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organizations,` at an Olympic Summit chaired by IOC president Kirsty Coventry.
- Historically, Russian teams were excluded since February 2022, a small group competed as neutrals at the Paris Summer Games last year, and a 2023 UEFA attempt to reintegrate Under-17 teams was dropped after pushback from at least 12 European national member federations.
- Implementation will take time, the IOC said, as international sports governing bodies and national member federations decide youth event definitions while the Russian Olympic body remains suspended.
- With Dakar 2026 approaching, the guidance could reintegrate Russian and Belarusian youth athletes after broad exclusions since February 2022, linking to Milan Cortina and Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games.
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Russia inches toward Olympic readmittance with new IOC youth event recommendation
The International Olympic Committee said Thursday that youth athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports should be allowed to compete under their national flag and anthem, easing restrictions on Russian athletes that have been in place since the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The updated position applies to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, but it did not mention the Milan Cortina Winter Games next year, where Russian athlet…
Ioc Wants to Allow Russian Youth Teams and Athletes to Compete Again Under Their Own Flag and Anthem
The International Olympic Committee advises federations to allow youth teams and athletes from both countries to participate in sporting events again under their own national flags.
The International Olympic Committee made a significant move towards the reintegration of Russia and Belarus into the world of sport on Thursday, recommending that the governing bodies allow the junior teams and athletes of these countries to participate in the competitions by fully displaying their identity, with their flag and national anthem.
Associated Press News
IOC advises sports bodies to let Russian youth teams, athletes compete again with flag and anthem
The IOC has taken a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports. It’s advising governing bodies of Olympic sports to let youth teams and athletes compete with their full identity of national flag and anthem.
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