Why Russia Is Not Competing in the 2026 Olympics.
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How Russia Broke the Olympic Truce
The start of the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics saw one very prominent contender missing from it all. Russia, as well as its ally and neighboring country Belarus, has been barred from competing in any major sporting event since its invasion of the nation Ukraine on February 24th, 2022. In the four years of active warfare since, more than 500,000 Ukrainians have died as a result (a number which does not include those missing or injured), and millions have been forced to flee the country in fear of their lives. Homes have been bombed and destroyed, with about 20% of the Nation being occupied by Russia currently and about twelve million people displaced.
Initially, Russia’s goal seemed to be a swift and surprising invasion—they believed that Ukraine, which had been a part of the USSR until just four months before its dissolution in 1991, was not a legitimate country, and claimed that the Ukrainian government was mistreating Russian-Ukrainian citizens. Russia stated their goal was to help back these Russian sectors who hoped to be annexed out of Ukraine. They, through what was called a “special military operation,” aimed to invade the entirety of Ukraine, kill the government, and absorb the nation back into Russia, before Ukraine even had the chance to collect and defend itself. Instead Ukrainian citizens fought back and prolonged what was only intended to be a week-long take over into a four-year-long war (and counting). The entire world watched in horror and immediately began condemning Russia’s actions. NATO financially backed the Ukrainian people and worldwide boycotts of Russian goods were enforced.
As the 2024 Olympic games drew closer, a decision had to be made. Dating back to the very first Olympics games in 776 BCE, though only revived in 1992, the Olympic Truce required all participants to enact a period of peace that begins seven days before the Olympic games start and concludes seven days after they end. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine occurred just four days after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics ended and therefore directly violated the truce. This was not Russia’s first time ignoring the Truce agreement—in fact, the last time Russia was in Beijing, on the opening day of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Russia also invaded its neighbor, Georgia. Then again in 2014, just three days after the Winter Olympics in Sochi ended, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine and annexed Crimea. Russia also violated the Olympic Charter, in 2023, when it attempted to include parts of occupied Ukraine under the Russian Olympic Committee. With all this considered many are unsurprised to see why Russia was banned—instead wondering why it did not happen sooner.
Interestingly, Russia has not been allowed to compete under its own flag since the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Due to a state-sponsored doping scandal, the 2018, 2020, and 2022 Olympics all allowed Russian athletes to compete under the “Russia Olympic Committee,” and the “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” category. Then, following the invasion of Ukraine, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, Russians were allowed to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” so long as they were not a part of the military and did not openly support Russia’s actions. These same requirements are still in effect, and only thirteen Russian (and seven Belrussian), are competing in Milan at all.
While public support of Russia’s ban seemed to be almost universally accepted, many people were frustrated that action was not taken faster. Others have voiced anger about the fact that Russia alone has been excluded from competing, whilst other countries engaging in similar behavior are allowed to participate without limitation. Regardless, approximately 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed since Russia began their invasion, and Ukrainians remain dissatisfied that neutral Russian athletes have been allowed to participate in the games, even with the provisions put in place.
Sources:
https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/world-reacts-russias-invasion-ukraine
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraine-55000-troops-killed-russia-talks-zelenskyy-rcna257529
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/the-conflict-in-ukraine/
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/what-country-is-ain-olympics/6456922/
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/11/russia-olympics-ban