Olympic Body Proposes Reinstatement for Russian and Belarusian Youth Competitors

IOC Advocates for Youth Athlete Reintegration

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called for the reinstatement of youth athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions, permitting them to represent their countries under national flags and anthems. The proposal, backed during an Olympic Summit in Switzerland, marks a potential shift in the IOC’s stance following the 2022 ban imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Key Recommendations and Next Steps

• Youth athletes would compete individually or in teams under standard federation protocols
• Implementation targeted for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar
• International federations to review the proposal in coming months

The IOC emphasized that young competitors "shouldn’t face consequences for their nations’ political decisions," framing sports as a pathway to unity. However, Russia remains barred from hosting international events, while Belarus has been exempted from this restriction.

Context and Recent Developments

This recommendation follows a recent Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that allowed nine Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate as neutrals in Winter Olympics qualifying events. The IOC’s latest move signals a phased approach to reintegrating athletes, starting with youth competitions.

“Sport offers hope and demonstrates that athletes can respect shared rules,” the IOC stated, underscoring the ethical rationale behind the proposal.

Stakeholders are expected to deliberate on the proposal, with decisions likely to unfold gradually across global sporting organizations.