The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, has noted that a significant number of international sports federations have satisfied the criteria for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again. The stance reflects a broader debate about membership, autonomy, and neutrality in sport, especially as nations negotiate how to integrate athletes from regions currently facing political tensions.
According to Bach, the integrity and autonomy of national and international sport are being challenged as individual countries seek to shape the global sports landscape. The most visible instance of this tension appears in debates over the participation of athletes who compete under neutral status while holding Russian or Belarusian passports. In practice, several federations have demonstrated that it is feasible to implement the IOC’s guidance by organizing events at the world championship level and beyond, while maintaining neutrality in eligibility criteria.
During an executive committee session of the IOC held on March 28, members discussed the possibility of allowing Russians and Belarusians to participate under neutral status, provided that these athletes do not actively support or uphold policies perceived as contrary to regional security interests. The decision highlighted a cautious approach that seeks to balance inclusion with governance principles and safety considerations remembered from prior policy reviews.
It is worth recalling that toward the end of February 2022, the IOC issued a directive urging international sports federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions. This stance was framed as a measure tied to broader geopolitical concerns at the time and prompted a wide range of responses across different sports and organizations.
Elena Vyalbe, who previously led the Russian Ski Racing Federation, weighed in on the matter after the Council of the International Ski Federation extended the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes. Her commentary reflected ongoing uncertainty and the differing interpretations of how the IOC’s recommendations should be translated into sport-specific policy, especially in disciplines with deep regional participation and long-standing competitive structures. The debate continues as federations assess how neutrality policies interact with national sporting governance and athletes’ rights to compete.