The International Olympic Committee (IOC), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced on May 7 that it no longer recommends imposing any restrictions on Belarusian athletes and teams participating in international sports competitions. However, due to the suspended membership of the Russian Olympic Committee, the ban on Russian athletes and teams remains in effect.
In March 2023, the IOC decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral individual athletes. Since then, Belarusian athletes have competed under this neutral status at international events, including the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The IOC emphasized that an athlete’s right to participate in international competitions should not be restricted due to actions of their country’s government, including involvement in war or conflict. The committee also noted that the Belarusian Olympic Committee has complied with the Olympic Charter and its membership status is currently without issues.
The situation differs for the Russian Olympic Committee, which has engaged in constructive dialogue with the IOC regarding its suspended membership. However, the matter remains under review by the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission.
In September 2024, the IOC Executive Board proposed lifting restrictions on young athletes from Russia and Belarus participating in international youth competitions. Under that proposal, young athletes from both countries could use their national flags, anthems, and team uniforms.
The timing of this policy adjustment is partly linked to the upcoming qualification events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2028 Milan-Cortina Winter Youth Olympics, which are set to begin this summer.
Additionally, the IOC announced on May 7 that four cities—Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Montreal, Canada; and Orlando, USA—will host the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualification series events. This marks the second time Shanghai will host such events, following the 2024 Paris Olympic qualification series.
