At a Glance
- 13 Russian athletes will compete as neutrals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
- Seven Belarusian athletes also receive invitations.
- Neither group will display national symbols or an anthem.
- The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that lifted a blanket ban on Russian skiers.
The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will feature 13 Russian competitors and seven Belarusian athletes, all competing under neutral status. None will march under their national flag, wear team colors, or hear an anthem during the opening ceremony.
Neutral Status and IOC Invitations
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed invitations for Russian alpine skiers and lugers on Tuesday. Neutral status is granted to athletes who have not actively supported their country’s war on Ukraine and are not contracted to military or state security agencies. The athletes will compete under the designation Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).
Alpine Skiing
- Yulia Pleshkova has started three World Cup races this season, with a best finish of 40th in a downhill.
- She is scheduled to compete later this week in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
- Simon Efimov and Maria Shkanova of Belarus compete in slalom but have not qualified for a second run in a World Cup race this month.
None of the three athletes are considered realistic medal contenders. Their participation hinges on a December 2 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that overturned a blanket ban imposed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation in February 2022.
Luge
- Daria Olesik became the first Russian to start a luge World Cup race in almost four years, competing last month at Lake Placid, New York.
- Pavel Repilov earned a silver medal in boy’s singles at the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics.
Both athletes have been invited by the IOC to compete on the sliding track in Cortina.
Belarusian Athletes
Seven Belarusian athletes received invitations to the Winter Games, set to open on Feb. 6. Like their Russian counterparts, they will not carry national colors, flag, or anthem and will miss the athlete parade during the opening ceremony.
Medal Prospects
The most promising Russian medal prospects at the Olympics are figure skaters Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik. Russia remains excluded from team sports such as ice hockey.
Historical Context
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Russian athletes secured 32 medals, including five gold, competing under the neutral title Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). This designation was a punishment linked to a long-running state doping scandal.
Olympic Design
Organizers for the Milan Cortina Winter Games unveiled new medal designs for both the Olympic and Paralympic events. The designs aim to reflect the spirit of the Games while acknowledging the unique circumstances of the participating athletes.
Timeline of Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 2, 2022 | Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns blanket ban on Russian skiers |
| Feb. 6, 2024 | Opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics |
| Feb. 6, 2024 | Seven Belarusian athletes begin competition |
| Feb. 6, 2024 | 13 Russian athletes start competing as neutrals |
Key Takeaways
- 13 Russian athletes will compete under neutral status, joined by seven Belarusian athletes.
- They will not display national symbols or an anthem during the Games.
- The IOC’s decision follows a legal ruling that lifted a ban on Russian skiers.
- The athletes include alpine skiers, lugers, and figure skaters, with the latter two being the most likely medal prospects.
- Russia’s participation continues to be limited to individual sports, with no presence in team events like ice hockey.
These developments highlight the ongoing impact of geopolitical events on international sporting competitions and the IOC’s efforts to balance fairness with the principles of the Olympic movement.
