Athletes from Belarus will once again be able to compete under their flag and with their anthem, including in team sports. The International Olympic Committee has lifted the restrictions on Thursday, which were imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but only for Belarusians, not Russians. “Since the adoption of the IOC recommendations on March 28, 2023, athletes holding a Belarusian passport have participated in numerous international sporting events as Neutral Individual Athletes (NIA), including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, without any incidents being reported, on or off the competition venue,” the global body said in a statement.
However, the Olympic body maintains the conditions imposed on Russian athletes for the time being, who will only be able to compete in international competitions under a neutral flag, on an individual basis and if they have not actively supported the conflict. “The situation of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) differs from that of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus. The NOC is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter. Although the ROC has had constructive exchanges with the IOC regarding its suspension, it remains suspended, while the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission continues to examine the case,” the IOC said.
