
Russian teams remain banned from competing at 2026 Winter Games
Russian teams, including the country's powerful national ice hockey side, remain banned from competing at next year's Milano-Cortina winter Olympics as part of sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.
The IOC was responding to reports out of Russia that hockey officials from the country had held talks with the international ice hockey federation (IIHF) over Olympic participation.
'The IOC Executive Board recommendation from March 2023 with regard to teams of athletes with a Russian passport remains in place,' the IOC said.
'It is based on the fact that, by definition, a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot be considered a team. We take note that the IIHF has confirmed that it will follow this recommendation.
A small number of individual Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to take part in the Paris 2024 summer Olympics after rigorous vetting by the IOC.
They competed without the Russian or Belarusian flag and anthem. Instead they took part as neutral athletes. All Russian teams were banned. Belarus has acted as a staging ground for the invasion.
ALSO READ | Winter Olympics torch unveiled in joint ceremony in Milan and Osaka
Four Russian figure skaters in men's and women's singles were recently approved by the International Skating Union to try to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes.
Russian ice hockey players won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and silver four years later in Beijing.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 for recognising regional Olympic councils for Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
'This (October 2023) recommendation was made after consultations with the International Federations concerned and the other Olympic Movement stakeholders,' the IOC said.
'This position reflects the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee because of its annexation of regional sports organisations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.'
'Such action constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognised by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter,' the Olympic body said.
The Winter Olympics in Italy run from February 6-22.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dwyane Wade shared heartfelt birthday wishes for his longtime Miami Heat pal Udonis Haslem
Dwyane Wade shared heartfelt birthday wishes for his longtime Miami Heat pal Udonis Haslem (Image Source: Getty Images) A quiet post stirred loud emotions across the basketball world. No breaking news. No highlight reels. Just one image, one message and suddenly, fans were talking. Two Miami Heat icons, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem once side by side on the court, found themselves back in the spotlight. What looked like a simple tribute hinted at something deeper, something that has everyone wondering what's coming next. Dwyane Wade sends heartfelt birthday message to Udonis Haslem On Monday, a quiet but powerful gesture caught the attention of basketball fans. Dwyane Wade took a moment to honor someone more than just an ex-teammate. He sent a heart touching message to Udonis Haslem on his 45th birthday. The two played side by side for years with the Miami Heat. Together, they helped win three NBA titles in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Though Wade's journey took brief turns through Chicago and Cleveland, his legacy is forever tied to South Beach. Haslem, meanwhile, wore only one jersey for two full decades, becoming the team's emotional anchor and a symbol of loyalty. On Instagram, Wade posted a photo of the duo, paired with a short, heartfelt caption: 'IT'S MY BROTHER'S BIRTHDAY! @UD40.' The statement was concise. But it revealed how much love and respect Dwyane Wade has for Udonis Haslem. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The two players are close friends, far beyond simple colleagues. The article swiftly grabbed the notice of supporters. It made everyone remember how close their connection is. In significant occasions, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem shared the court. During triumphs, defeats, and championships, they stood side by side. Dwyane Wade's speech was a tribute to all those years and memories. Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade reunite for Amazon Prime NBA coverage The Miami Heat retired Udonis Haslem's jersey number 40 in 2024. The event happened at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. For Udonis Haslem, who had spent two decades with the team, it was a proud moment. Udonis Haslem is still staying near to basketball right now. He is the Vice President of Basketball Development for the Miami Heat. He attends workouts and works with players. He is also assisting in the team's game preparation. Udonis Haslem is also initiating something new. He will be included in the NBA broadcast team for Amazon Prime Video in the 2025–2026 NBA season. Dwyane Wade will also be part of the team. They will join with other prominent names including Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, and Taylor Rooks. From time to time, Dwyane Wade will show up on the broadcast. Moreover, he will serve as a game analyst; Wade did something similar with NBC during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem are embarking on a fresh chapter together. Though off the court, they are still in the game. Also Read: 'I won't even be watching'—NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal explains why he will skip 2025 NBA Finals


New Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Record-breaking Elavenil in happy space
CHENNAI: ELAVENIL Valarivan has a penchant for breaking records. Ever since her days as a junior shooter, she has been one of the certified talents from the country who has repeatedly raised the bar. The 25-year-old was in her happy space on Tuesday, flirting with the women's 10m air rifle qualification world record before settling for the national record instead at the ongoing ISSF World Cup in Munich. In a field that boasted Olympic champions and world beaters, the double Olympian returned with a remarkable 635.9, shattering the previous high of 634.7 which was posted by Nancy in 2023 during the Bhopal World Cup. Elavenil, a shooter with TN roots, displayed remarkable precision before going on to etch the record mark in the qualification stage. In the highly-competitive eight-woman final, she was equally productive and at one stage, seemed like she would go on to pocket the gold medal. However, one mistake during her 21st shot proved to be her undoing. A 9.8 score (her first shot below 10.1) demoted her to bronze medal instead. This is incidentally India's first medal of this edition of the World Cup. Teen sensation from China, Wang Zifei, who had earlier posted the qualification world record with an eye-catching score of 637.9, went on to capture gold while South Korea's Kwon Eun-ji grabbed silver. Gold might have proven to be a step too far for Elavenil, but her coach Neha Chavan, who has been overseeing her development for a long time, was delighted with her record-shattering shooting. Having seen her train up close, Neha is far from surprised with this outcome. "It was a very good qualification. She had missed out on a medal in the past, she had missed by .1 point in 2019 and she wanted to win this medal in Munich. So this is very special, especially the qualification, she was one point behind the world record. But the Chinese shooter was outstanding. We have something to look forward to now," she told The New Indian Express. Having interacted with her ward after the match, Neha revealed that Elavenil was pleased with her effort. "She is happy. Before she left for the World Cup, she was quite confident as she was shooting high scores. She was like, 'I'm training well, I'm going to make it to the final and win a medal'. That confidence showed in her competition. In the last couple of shots, she was leading and unfortunately, she missed out on one shot. But that's part of the learning process and something to look forward to." The standards of shooting have risen massively in the last few years with the scores constantly getting better by the day. "All the best athletes usually participate. The competition is very high. The top-8 was 633 (qualification cut-off mark. To shoot in that setting is good preparation for the World Championships later this year," Neha said. "It is vital to shoot these scores at the high level as it gives you the confidence so that you can come back and train," she added. This is technically Elavenil's first competitive shooting at the international level. She had competed just for the ranking points during the season-opener in Buenos Aires. Aside from small technical adjustments, Neha revealed that she has been focussing on her physical training. More than anything, it's Elavenil's love for the craft that has helped her maintain her high standards. "Now, as a 25-year-old, you become a little bit more mature to handle. Her motivation has always been great. She has never once said, 'Oh, I don't want to come to the range'. Not once, she has always showed up. She loves the sport and she is very happy." Her dedication and love for the sport could help her fetch many more records and medals in the years to come.


Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
EU's new Russia sanctions to target the energy sector and banks
The European Commission on Tuesday proposed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenues, its banks and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. "Russia's goal is not peace, it is to impose the rule of might ... strength is the only language that Russia will understand," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference. The Commission proposes adding 22 more Russian banks to its list and broadening restrictions on them beyond a removal from SWIFT, a global financial messaging system, to a full transaction ban. It also proposes expanding the scope to banks from third countries, and lists the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), as well as its subsidiaries and wider network. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the RDIF, said von der Leyen's statements reflected "the EU's desire to prolong the conflict in Ukraine and its strong dissatisfaction with RDIF's efforts to restore relations between Russia and the United States". He said in a statement that the RDIF was also actively supporting European companies that have a presence in Russia. The Commission has also proposed lowering the Group of Seven nations (G7) price cap on Russian crude oil to $45 a barrel, from $60 a barrel, in a bid to cut Russia's energy revenues. Von der Leyen said that the oil price cap will be discussed at a G7 leaders meeting in Canada next week. "My assumption is that we do that together as the G7. We started that as G7, it was successful as a measure from the G7, and I want to continue this measure as G7," she said. The proposal also lists more vessels that make up Russia's shadow fleet, taking the total to more than 400 ships, and oil trading companies. The Commission has also proposed a ban on imports of refined products produced from Russian oil. 'In this way, we want to prevent that some of the Russian crude oil reaches the EU market through the back door,' von der Leyen said. EU countries will start debating the proposal this week.