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The moon is seen behind the flag with the Olympic rings. Russian athletes can compete as neutrals at next year's Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics under the same strict conditions that applied for Paris 2024, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry announced on Friday. Peter Kneffel/dpa
Russian athletes can compete as neutrals at next year's Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics under the same strict conditions that applied for Paris 2024, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry announced on Friday.
The decision after IOC executive board meetings in Milan means that Russians remain banned from team sports like curling and ice hockey, and that the eligibility of individual athletes will be determined by the respective international federations.
The same measures apply for athletes from Belarus.
The sanctions are in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the support role of Belarus.
Athletes can only participate at the February 6-22 Games if they have gone through a strict vetting process, have no association with the military and other security forces, and don't back the war in public.
Athletes can not wear uniforms in their national colour and the Russian flag and anthem will also not be displayed and played.
The IOC has also suspended the Russian Olympic Committee because it included annexed areas from Ukraine which the IOC rated a violation of the Olympic Charter.
Only a small number of Russians is expected to make it to Italy because many federations including from skiing, biathlon and sliding sports are not allowing them back.
The ruling skating body ISU is meanwhile allowing Russians to participate in its qualifiers in figure skating, speed skating and short track; and ski mountaineering also allows them in.
Russia was previously also sanctioned by the IOC over state sponsored doping schemes at its 2014 home Games in Sochi, with athletes having to compete without national symbols 2018 in Pyeongchang and 2022 in Beijing.
Coventry meanwhile also announced an IOC statement in the near future on the many conflicts around the world. She said that sports must promote peace more than ever before.
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