The International Olympic Committee eased restrictions on Russian athletes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, “provisionally” lifting the suspension of its athletes.
In a press release, the IOC’s Executive Board said the ban on its flag, anthem, colors, and national identification remains in place, and a decision on that will come “at an appropriate time.” The board justified the IOC’s lifting of its October 2023 ban on Russian athletes on the grounds that the Russian Olympic Committee no longer operates in the four annexed oblasts in Ukraine, which the IOC says belong to the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee.
The statement also stressed that its position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine hasn’t changed.
“The IOC stands in solidarity with the Olympic community of Ukraine, which the Olympic movement has supported since the beginning of the war, and will continue to do so,” the IOC said.
The IOC began softening its view towards the ROC last year, when IOC President Kirsty Coventry floated the idea of lifting the ban against them.
“I am, but I think you have to take each situation into account,” she told Sky News in an interview when asked if she was against banning countries from the Olympics over conflicts.
Coventry reasoned that the ban was hypocritical, given the lack of bans on African countries despite several wars on the continent. Brutal wars waged by countries, including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Rwanda, did not result in any bans. Each country participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The incoming IOC president argued for a task force that would provide a framework for dealing with countries involved in conflicts.
“What I would like to do is set up a task force where this task force tries to set out some policies and some guiding frameworks that we as the movement can use to make decisions when we are brought into conflicts,” she said.
Two months ago, the IOC advised that Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games with their full national identity. Though not a direct party to the conflict, Belarus stands as one of Russia’s closest allies.
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Ukraine is certain to react with outrage to Tuesday’s decision, having already issued strong condemnations of previous moves to open the doors for Russian athletes back into the games.
Outside of the political controversy, Russia is also still under scrutiny for past doping scandals.