Latest news with #RussianAthletes
National Post
4 days ago
- General
- National Post
Why you'll see individual Russian athletes at 2026 Winter Olympics, but no teams
Though some individual Russian athletes may be allowed to compete as neutrals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the country's hockey teams will be on the outside looking in at the action. Article content The Reuters news agency on Tuesday published a report stating the current ban on Russian teams will remain in place through the Milano Cortina 2026 men's and women's hockey tournaments, slated for February of next year. Article content Hockey action begins Feb. 4, the opening ceremonies will be held two days later, and the Games will run through Feb. 22, the date of the men's gold-medal game at what will be the newly built 16,000-seat Milano Santagiulia arena. Article content There was no official statement from either the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Tuesday; however, the Reuters report quoted an unnamed IOC official. Article content 'The recommendation of the IOC Executive Board from March 2023 regarding teams of athletes holding Russian passports remains in force. It is based on the premise that, by definition, a group of individual neutral athletes cannot be considered a team. We take note that the IIHF has confirmed it will follow this recommendation, which was made after consultations with the relevant International Federations and other stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.' Article content The IIHF had announced in February that the suspensions of Russian and Belarusian teams would continue through May 2026 and IIHF president Luc Tardif said during a press conference last weekend at the world hockey championship in Stockholm that the IOC would be making this decision. Article content Article content 'Recently they asked us to send them a schedule without Russia, so that's where we are,' Tardif said. 'The official statement is pending but the IOC has told us that they are informing the Russian Olympic Committee that they are not participating in the Olympics.' Article content Article content There are two spots open in each of the men's, women's and mixed doubles curling tournaments at Milano Cortina 2026, but it seems unlikely that Russian curling teams will be allowed to compete in qualifying events. Article content World Curling extended their ban through the 2024-25 season, citing Rule C1(b) which states that a team may be removed from any event if the World Curling board decides the team's presence would 'damage the event or put the safety of the participants or the good order of the event at risk.' Article content Competing under the banner of 'Russian Olympic Committee,' the men's team won gold at PyeongChang 2018. At Beijing 2022, they claimed silver as 'Team Olympic Athlete from Russia.'
Washington Post
5 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
The IOC's policy on Russia takes a complex issue and muddles it further
Here's an athletic-political salad: The International Olympic Committee's outgoing chief, Thomas Bach, has said, 'If politics decides who can take part in a competition, then sport and athletes become tools of politics.' And yet his organization banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Paris Summer Games and the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
Russian teams remain barred from competing at Milan-Cortina Olympics next February
Russian teams, including the country's powerful hockey side, remain banned from competing at the Milano-Cortina Olympics next February as part of sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Olympic Committee said 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 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 could take part in the Paris 2024 Olympics last summer 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. 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 hockey players won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea and silver four years later in Beijing. The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 for recognizing 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 organizations 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 recognized by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter," the Olympic body said. The Olympics in Italy run from February 6-22.
Independent Singapore
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk shakes hands with Russian Daria Kasatkina at the Italian Open, applauds her anti-war views
Russian athlete Daria Kasatkina's decision to stop representing her home country and switch allegiance to Australia has received support from Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk at the Italian Open. Kostyuk, one of the top athletes on the women's tour, often refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents as part of their protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, after defeating Kasatkina with a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, Kostyuk shook the Russian's hand, who then started representing Australia in March. Kasatkina now has a permanent residency in Australia. She has been outspoken against Russia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the war in Ukraine. With this news, Kostyuk praised Kasatkina for her bravery and showed her admiration after the match. After the match, she's quoted as saying, ' It's always nice to shake hands with someone I respect… When someone not only tells the truth — calling Russia the aggressor — but also acts on it, that deserves respect.' She added, 'Daria Kasatkina has clearly spoken out against the war and made the decision to give up her Russian sports citizenship. This takes courage, and I acknowledge it. I hope this is not the final step but part of a deeper commitment. I stand with Ukraine. I stand for truth, for dignity, and for those who choose to speak and act — when staying quiet would be easier.' Despite receiving strong support on and off the court, Kasatkina has had a hard time beginning as an Australian player. She has only won two matches and unfortunately lost three. Last March, Kasatkina shared the announcement about her permanent residency in Australia in a social media post. Tennis Australia then commented on the said post, saying, ' Welcome to the Aussie tennis family 🙌' In another social media post, Kostyuk shared about her experience in the match with a caption, 'Some matches stay with you — not just for how you played, but for what you decided. This one will.' Netizens also shared their thoughts in the comment section. ' Nice to see you shake that Aussie's hand!', one wrote. Italian Open updates In other news, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka started strong as she defeated Anastasia Potapova with a final scoreline of 6-2, 6-2. Furthermore, Coco Gauff also moved on to the next round with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 after having an intense fight with Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko. Moreover, Italian tennis star Fabio Fognini recently announced his retirement from the sport and admitted that this season's Italian Open would be his last tournament. Read more of the story here.
