The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has lifted its recommended restrictions on Belarusian athletes competing in the Olympics, a move that separates the treatment of Belarus from that of Russia. The decision, announced by the IOC executive board on Thursday, means Belarusian competitors can now participate under their national flag and as part of a full delegation, including at the opening ceremony and in the medal table.
In a statement, the IOC said it “no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams.” The body reaffirmed its principle that “athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict.”
The shift comes after both Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from most international competitions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, allowed its territory to be used as a staging ground for the invasion. Since then, athletes from both countries have been permitted to compete only as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” stripped of national symbols and in limited numbers.
Different Treatment for Russia and Belarus
The IOC explicitly distinguished the two cases. “The situation relating to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) is different from that relating to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus,” the statement read. Russian athletes will continue to be barred from team events and can only compete individually as neutrals, provided they have not actively supported the war.
At the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, Belarusians competed alongside Russians under the neutral banner. Only 17 Belarusian athletes took part in Paris, and seven in Italy. The new policy effectively ends that arrangement for Belarus, opening the door for its national Olympic committee to field a full team at the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games.
The IOC noted that the timing of the decision aligns with the start of the qualification period for the 2028 Olympics, which begins this summer. Independent sports federations are now expected to formally implement the change.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Critics argue that Belarus remains a repressive state complicit in the war, citing the systematic abuse documented in Belarusian prisons, as detailed in a recent UN report. Others point to the release of Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut in a prisoner swap as a sign of shifting dynamics.
For European sports governance, the move underscores the challenge of balancing political accountability with the Olympic ideal of non-discrimination. The IOC’s stance suggests a pragmatic approach: while Russia’s Olympic committee remains sanctioned, Belarus is being reintegrated into the international sports community.
The decision will be closely watched by European Union member states, many of which have imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials. Poland, which shares a border with Belarus, has reported a 96% drop in illegal border crossings from Belarus, indicating some success in managing migration pressures linked to Minsk’s policies.
As the 2028 Los Angeles Games approach, the IOC’s move sets a precedent that could influence how other international bodies treat nations involved in conflicts. For now, Belarusian athletes can prepare to compete under their own flag, while their Russian counterparts remain in a neutral limbo.
