Russian athletes will compete as neutral individuals at the Milan Cortina Olympics after the International Olympic Committee confirmed invitations on Tuesday for Alpine skiers and lugers.
At a Glance
- 13 Russian athletes will compete without national colors, flag or anthem.
- Seven Belarusian athletes also receive neutral invitations.
- The opening ceremony will feature no national parades for these competitors.
- Feb. 6 marks the opening of the Games.
The 2024 Winter Games in Italy bring a new chapter for athletes from Russia and Belarus. After the 2022 Beijing Games, where over 200 Russian competitors finished with 32 medals, the country was excluded from many international sports due to its military invasion of Ukraine. Now, under the IOC’s neutral status, 13 Russian and seven Belarusian athletes can participate in individual events, though they cannot march in the opening ceremony or display national symbols.
Neutral Status Explained
The IOC grants neutral status to athletes who are not actively supporting their country’s war efforts and are not contracted to military or state security agencies. These athletes compete under the designation Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), the French acronym for the status. Their uniforms lack any national colors or emblems, and they do not hear their anthem at medal ceremonies.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling on Dec. 2 overturned a blanket ban imposed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation that had been enacted in February 2022. That decision allowed several skiers to return to competition, paving the way for the IOC’s invitations.
Alpine Skiing Contingent
Only two Russian skiers and one Belarusian are slated to compete in Alpine skiing, and none are expected to contend for medals.
- Yulia Pleshkova has entered three World Cup downhill races this season, with a best finish of 40th place. She is scheduled to race again in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, later this week.
- Simon Efimov and Maria Shkanova from Belarus compete in slalom. Neither has qualified for a second run in the current World Cup month.
These athletes will attempt to qualify for the Games under the new neutral framework, hoping to at least finish the competition.
Luge Participants
In luge, the IOC invited Russian athletes Daria Olesik and Pavel Repilov.
- Olesik marked her first World Cup start in almost four years when she raced at Lake Placid, New York, last month.
- Repilov earned a silver medal in boy’s singles at the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics.
Both athletes will race on the Cortina sliding track, representing the neutral designation rather than Russia.
Other Medal Prospects
The most promising Russian prospects for the Games are figure skaters Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik. They remain eligible for medals under the neutral status.
Russia is still barred from team sports such as ice hockey, as it was at the 2024 Paris Summer Games. At Beijing, Russian athletes won 32 medals-including five gold-while competing under the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) banner, a neutral title used in response to doping scandals.
Olympic Identity and Symbols
The Milan Cortina organizers have unveiled the medal designs for both Olympic and Paralympic events. These medals will feature the traditional Olympic rings but without any national flags.
The neutral designation means athletes will march in the opening ceremony without national colors, but they can still participate in their events and potentially win medals under the AIN banner.
Key Takeaways
- 13 Russian athletes will compete neutrally at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
- Neutral status is granted to athletes not linked to military or security agencies.
- The IOC’s invitations follow a CAS ruling that lifted a blanket ban on Russian skiers.
- Russian and Belarusian athletes will not march in the opening ceremony or display national symbols.
- The best medal prospects remain in figure skating, with other athletes competing in Alpine skiing and luge.
These developments highlight the ongoing balance between sports participation and geopolitical realities, ensuring athletes can compete while upholding the Olympic spirit of neutrality and fair play.
