The Russian teams remain excluded to participate in Jean-Cortina Olympics next February
The Russian teams, including the powerful hockey team of the country, remain prohibited from participating in the Jeano-Cortina Olympics next February as part of the sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday.
The IOC responded to Russia’s reports that the country’s hockey officials had had interviews with the International Ice Hockey Federation for Olympic participation.
“The recommendation of the executive board of the CIO of March 2023 with regard to the athlete teams with a Russian passport remains in place,” said the IOC.
“It is based on the fact that, by definition, a group of individual neutral athletes cannot be considered as a team. We note that the IIHF has confirmed that it would follow this recommendation.
A small number of Russian and individual athletes individual could participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last summer after a rigorous verification of the IOC.
They contributed without the Russian or Belarusian flag and the anthem. Instead, they participated as neutral athletes. All Russian teams have been prohibited. The Belarus acted as a staging field for the invasion.
Four Russian artistic skaters in simple male and female have recently been approved by the International Skating Union to try to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games as neutral ashletes.
Russian hockey players won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games in South Korea and Silver four years later in Beijing.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 for recognizing the regional Olympic councils for the regions occupied by Russia of Ukraine – Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
“This [October 2023] A recommendation was made after consultations with the international federations concerned and the other stakeholders in the Olympic movement, “said the IOC.
“This position reflects the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee because of its annexation of regional sports organizations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee in Ukraine.”
“Such an action constitutes a violation of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the Ukraine CNO, as recognized by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter,” said the Olympic organization.
The Olympic Games in Italy take place from February 6 to 22.
