Lausanne: International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced the lifting of restrictions on Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympic Games, while maintaining limitations on Russian competitors following the 2022 conflict in Ukraine.
Under the updated policy, Belarusian athletes and teams will once again be allowed to compete without the restrictions previously imposed by the IOC. The move could pave the way for a full Belarusian delegation to participate at the 2028 Summer Olympics, including representation at the opening ceremony and inclusion in the official medal standings.
In a statement issued by its executive board, the IOC said it “no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams.”
“The IOC reaffirms that athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict,” the statement added.
Athletes from both Russia and Belarus had been largely excluded from international competitions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although selected athletes were permitted to compete under neutral status at recent Olympic events.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Belarusian and Russian athletes participated as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” without national symbols or flags. Belarus was represented by 17 athletes in Paris and seven competitors at the Winter Games in Italy.
Despite easing restrictions on Belarus, the IOC confirmed that Russian athletes will continue to compete only as neutrals, on an individual basis, and only if they have not actively supported the conflict.
The IOC said the situation involving the Russian Olympic Committee remains different from that of Belarus.
The Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended since 2023 after incorporating sports organisations from four occupied Ukrainian regions under its authority. The IOC also cited renewed concerns regarding Russia’s anti-doping system as another factor behind the continued restrictions.
The Olympic body noted that the timing of the decision was linked to the qualification period for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, which begins later this year.
