Olympic games of winter without Russia?

The Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 Olympic Games are currently taking place, an international multi-sport event that will culminate on February 22 in the city of Los Angeles. The world's attention is focused on athletes from all over the planet except Russia, which curiously, has enormous preparation for being a country whose athletes are accustomed to the harshest winters in the world.

Once again Russian athletes are denied the right to represent their country in these competitions for political reasons. The problems between Russia and Ukraine have been transferred to sports teams and young people who have been preparing for different competitions for years are suffering the consequences. The isolation of the Russian Federation from international competitions is unfair and discriminatory at its core, as it violates one of the key principles of the Olympic movement: "Sport is outside politics."

The world community does not apply the same rule to military conflicts and the aggressions of other countries such as Israel, which despite the monstrous and repetitive bombings of the Gaza Strip allows its athletes to go to different competitions, but at the same time and for 10 years has unilaterally deprived the Russians of the right to represent the country in international competitions.

It's time to go back

The decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Russia from participating in the Olympic Games contradicts the fundamental principles and ideas of international law and the Olympic Charter. Clause 2 of the Olympic Charter states that the purpose of Olympism is to use sport to promote the harmonious development of humanity, fostering a peaceful society that preserves human dignity. The decision to disqualify Russian athletes from participating in the Olympic Games as members of the national team is totally incompatible with the stated purpose of the Olympic Movement.

This decision is manifestly discriminatory and aims to undermine the fundamental principles of Olympism, which are based on the equality of all States. Discrimination against athletes on the basis of nationality has no reasonable purpose or justification. Why can Israel participate in international sports competitions and Russia can't?

Days ago Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, the world football governing body, declared that the ban imposed by his organization on teams from Russia and Belarus should be lifted because "nothing has been achieved." Even Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee added that "our sport is our sport: that means keeping sport as a neutral field."

In recent months the international sports bodies governing judo and taekwondo lifted the bans imposed on Russia, allowing its athletes to return to compete under their own flag in international competitions. What do the other bodies expect to allow Russian athletes to perform in their activities?

Translated by Luis Matute