2026 Winter Olympics: Neutral athletes allowed to attend closing ceremony
BBC World
February 20, 2026
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The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina will allow neutral athletes to attend the closing ceremony, marking a notable shift from their absence at the opening event. This decision comes amid ongoing political tensions, particularly involving Russian and Belarusian athletes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. No neutral athlete won an event during the Games, which would have required playing the Olympic anthem and raising the Olympic flag instead of any national symbols.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has maintained its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags at future Olympics. However, a separate body, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), has permitted some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the upcoming Paralympics under their national identities. The IPC awarded 10 athletes from these nations with "bipartite commission invitations" for events like Para-alpine skiing and Para-snowboarding.
Ukrainian officials have responded by boycotting the Paralympic opening ceremony, signaling ongoing tensions. Meanwhile, IOC President Kirsty Coventry has distanced the IOC from the IPC's decision, emphasizing
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/20/2026