The Suspended Return: Russia and Belarus at the 2026 Olympics under neutral flags

The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are shaping up to be one of the most charged sporting events of recent decades. Not only because of Italy's exceptional scenic setting, but also because of the decision to bring back Russia and Belarus - after a long exclusion - to take the Olympic stage, albeit in a neutral capacity. A choice that continues to divide, generate controversy and deep reflections on sports, diplomacy and justice.

Balancing sports and geopolitics

In February 2022, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine-with the active support of Belarus-the sporting world reacted firmly. The IOC imposed a freeze on all official events on Russian and Belarusian soil, banning athletes, officials and federations from Olympic and Paralympic competitions. That suspension seemed destined to last for years.

But the Olympic movement has also always been a platform for dialogue, and after two years of tensions and attempts at mediation, the IOC reopened talks. At the end of 2024 came the turning point: some Russian and Belarusian athletes, under certain conditions, will be able to participate in the Milan Cortina 2026 Games.

Readmission rules: who will be allowed to compete?

This is not full reintegration. Athletes who participate will do so exclusively as:

• Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), without flags, anthems, coats of arms or national symbols;
• Subjected to additional checks to ensure no ties to the military apparatus or state propaganda campaigns;
• Excluded from all forms of official representation: no Russian or Belarusian government officials will be allowed to attend, nor will ceremonies related to the two countries.

This formula is not new: it had already been adopted for Russian athletes at Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 following the doping scandal. However, the current context - linked to an armed conflict - amplifies its symbolic and political significance.

Milan Cortina: the wait for the silent return

On the slopes of Valtellina, in the arenas of Milan, among the peaks of Val di Fiemme, the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes will take place Without fanfare, but under close media scrutiny.

Some of the strongest performers in winter sports are expected to participate, especially in:

• Biathlon, where the Russian school has a very long tradition;
• Cross-country skiing and Nordic combined, with athletes capable of dominating each season;
• Figure skating, where Russia is among the most titled nations in the world;
• Skeleton and sledding, disciplines of technique and cold-bloodedness.

Each podium, each victory, however, will be charged with tension. The Olympic flag will fly instead of the Russian tricolor, and the anthem will be replaced by a neutral tune, as was the case for OAR athletes in the recent past.

International reactions: between diplomacy and boycott threats

The return of Russia and Belarus has split the Olympic front:

• Ukraine expressed deep disappointment, declaring that "even the absence of a flag does not erase moral responsibility."
• Baltic countries, Poland and some Scandinavian nations. have threatened a boycott, arguing that one cannot turn a blind eye to military aggression.
• On the other hand, France, Italy, Spain and Germany supported the IOC's decision, hoping that "athletes will not be punished for the political faults of others."

The sports world is also divided. Some Ukrainian athletes have made appeals on social media, asking for support from international colleagues. Other champions, including former Russian Olympians, have stressed their desire for peace through competition and mutual respect.

A media and digital case

The topic has also resonated greatly in the digital world. Research related to "Russia Olympics 2026", "neutral athletes Milan Cortina", "Belarus IOC decision" e "Winter Games and Geopolitics." have grown dramatically.

An Olympics loaded with symbols

Milan Cortina 2026 will be much more than a sporting event. It will be a crossroads of values, compromises, hopes. The return of Russia and Belarus - albeit in neutral form - will be watched carefully, remembering that each podium will also be a testing ground for the fragile balance between sport and politics.

The world watches. And the ice, silent, will tell what words cannot tell.