Optimism Grows as Russian Sports Eye Return to International Competitions

The honorary president of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, commented on the potential return of Russian athletes to the international sports arena.

«Recently, there has been a growing sense of optimism regarding the complete lifting of the bans on our sports,» said Zhukov, as reported by Championship correspondent Yegor Kabak.

In 2023, the International Olympic Committee recommended that Russian athletes be allowed to participate in competitions only under a neutral status and not in team sports. Currently, some ski mountaineers, figure skaters, speed skaters, and short track skaters are eligible for Olympic qualification.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.