Sawt Falasteen - IOC calls for full reintegration of Russians to youth competitions

"Athletes have a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organisation," the IOC said in a statement.

The proposal, which comes three years before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, was welcomed by Russia, whose athletes have faced bans from international competition since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"We thank the IOC Executive Board for its gradual and consistent progress towards restoring the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter," Mikhail Degtyarev, president of the Russian Olympic Committee, said on Telegram.

"We will carefully analyse the Executive Board's decision and continue to work towards the full restoration of the rights of all our athletes."

The revised policy on Russia was agreed at a meeting chaired by IOC president Kirsty Coventry that gathered key stakeholders from across the Olympic movement.

It was acknowledged that implementing the latest measure to ease Russia's sporting isolation "will take time" but it could apply to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled to run from October 31 to November 13.

"Youth athletes, should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments," said the IOC.

"Sport is their access to hope, and a way to show that all athletes can respect the same rules and each another."

The IOC had announced in September that athletes from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete at next year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics under a neutral banner if they meet strict conditions.

Those include competing under a neutral flag, taking part only in individual events and undergoing checks to prove that they did not actively support the war in Ukraine or have any links with the army.

The same conditions applied to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics at which 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians competed, winning a combined five medals.

L.AbuTayeh--SF-PST