IOC allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Italy Winter Olympics
Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete at the Winter Olympic Games in Italy under the same conditions as in Paris, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced.
The IOC said 32 athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports competed in Paris.
The IOC has clarified that each athlete's right to compete as a neutral will be evaluated by a separate commission. Competitors who are accepted must sign a document committing them to the Olympic Charter, including the "peace mission of the Olympic Movement".
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the IOC had recommended that international federations not invite Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions. In March 2023, the organisation eased this recommendation, allowing athletes who do not support the war in Ukraine and have no ties to the military or security forces to be admitted to competitions.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
