​A man walks past a fence with Olympic Rings in front of the Russian National Olympic Committee building in Moscow, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
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Pavel Bednyakov, Associated Press
Restrictions against Russia’s participation in the Olympics, including those put in place after the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have now been lifted by the International Olympic Committee.That opens the door for Russian athletes to compete in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles as members of their country’s team, although the use of Russia’s flag and national anthem remains under review.Russians had only been allowed at the past two Olympics as individual “neutral” athletes after being vetted to ensure they did not support the war against Ukraine. Similar restrictions on athletes from Belarus, a Russian ally, were removed in May.
Adeliia Petrosian of Individual Neutral Athletes competes during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026.
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Natacha Pisarenko, Associated Press
The decisions made Tuesday by the IOC Executive Board also included a provisional end to the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee imposed by the IOC in 2023 over issues related to the ongoing war in Ukraine.The IOC Executive Board has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. Recommendations to International Federations with regard to Russian athletes’ participation are no longer applicable. Read: https://t.co/k9FlApULU5pic.twitter.com/K0pVQ7eJH1— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 7, 2026So what’s the reason behind the shift? “We wanted to make sure all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their government’s actions,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry told reporters.Coventry, a double Olympic champion swimmer from Zimbabwe who was elected the IOC’s first woman and first African president last year, offered a personal perspective as someone who competed for a county that has long dealt with conflict.“I don’t believe athletes should pay the price,” she said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I had to pay the price when my country was going through things and being sanctioned.”A recently adopted policy intended to