US EditionIOC Urges Sports Bodies to Let Russian Youth Teams and Athletes Compete Again with Flag and Anthem
The IOC aims to protect youth athletes' rights by allowing competition under national flags while maintaining sanctions on governments and officials, with changes applying to Dakar 2026.
- 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.
73 Articles
73 Articles
On Thursday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took a significant step towards the readmission of Russia and Belarus into world sport. This is because at the Olympic Summit, held this Thursday at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, it recommended that international federations allow the participation of youth teams and athletes from both countries with their own flag and anthem. This is a significant change following the restri…
The representatives of the international federations warned, however, that the application would "take time".
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called on sports governing bodies to allow youth teams and young athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under full identity, with the national flag and anthem.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that sports federations allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to study...
IOC Clears Russian and Belarusian Youth Athletes for International Competition Despite Ongoing Sanctions
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to allow youth athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags at international youth competitions. This decision was confirmed during the 14th Olympic Summit, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on December 11. The IOC’s recommendation applies to youth athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports, permitting their participation in both individual and team sports. This move refl…
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