2026-02-04 19:07:29
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has signalled Russian athletes could be welcomed back to the Games – insisting sport must remain neutral and open to all competitors, regardless of geopolitics.
Coventry made the remarks in her opening address to the 145th IOC session in Milan this week, arguing for the core principle all athletes should be allowed to compete freely, even as other sporting figures weighed in on the contentious issue of Russia’s participation.
Her comments came after Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he wants Russia reinstated in international football, a stance that has drawn sharp rebukes from Ukrainian officials.
While not naming Russia directly, Coventry said: “Throughout the campaign and in many of our conversations since, I have heard the same message from many of you.
“Focus on our core. We are a sports organisation.
“We understand politics and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum.
“But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground.
“A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments. “In a world that is increasingly divided, this principle matters more than ever.
“It is what allows the Olympic Games to remain a place of inspiration where the athletes of the world can come together and showcase the best of our humanity.”
The remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to Russia’s exclusion from the Olympic Games and other major sporting events following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Russian IOC member Shamil Tarpischev welcomed Coventry’s address, telling German media “the political component shouldn’t play a role” because “sport is inspiration and the future”.
He added: “So far, everything is going smoothly and honourably. But we still have a lot of discussions to make.” He also described Infantino as positive about efforts to expand participation.
Russia has been banned by Fifa and Uefa since the full-scale invasion, with its national teams excluded from competitions such as the men’s and women’s World Cups, the European Championships and age-group equivalents.
Russian sides are permitted only to play friendly matches, and Infantino told Sky News the ban had “not achieved anything” and should be reassessed, particularly for youth teams.
The comments drew fierce criticism from Ukraine’s sports minister Matvii Bidnyi, who labelled Infantino’s remarks “irresponsible” and “infantile”, saying they “detach football from the reality in which children are being killed”.
Bidnyi cited Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and urged football authorities against readmitting Russia.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha went further on social media, linking suggestions of lifting bans to an infamous Olympic controversy and noting the loss of young Ukrainians who will never play football.
In December, the IOC advised Russian youth athletes should be allowed to compete internationally under neutral status. Fifa subsequently announced a new under-15 festival open to all member associations.
In the current Olympic cycle, 13 Russians are competing as neutrals at Milano Cortina, alongside athletes from Belarus.
In football, Russian under-16 and under-15 teams have featured in Uefa “development tournaments”, which also include non-European guests, while senior national sides have played friendlies against Serbia, North Macedonia and club sides during training camps.
Despite these incremental developments, a full reinstatement of Russia in international football competitions seems unlikely while the conflict continues, with strong opposition across Europe likely to thwart any vote by Fifa or Uefa to overturn existing bans.
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