The international sports federations began to review the conditions of acceptance of Russian and Belarusian athletes after the recommendations of the IOC. We are talking about the gradual abandonment of the neutral class model: some organizations have already allowed performances under the national flag and the anthem. On July 7, 2026, the IOC Executive Committee temporarily reinstated the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee and recommended that the federations lift the restrictions on Russian athletes. The committee later extended this approach to youth competitions. The final word remains with the international federations. The opportunity to perform under national symbols has already been returned to World Boxing, the International Union of Modern Pentathlon and the World Federation of Dance Sports. At the same time, World Athletics and the International Biathlon Union maintain the same restrictions. IOC recommendations do not mean automatic acceptance to the Olympic Games. The IOC must decide separately on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles and the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. The reaction to these measures was difficult. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakana said Tallinn may refuse to participate in the Olympics if Russian athletes are returned to tournaments under the flag and anthem. A similar position was supported by Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Romania. In Moscow, the amendment of the restrictions is seen as the return of basic sports rights. Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Sports Dmitry Svichov said that a possible boycott would mainly harm the athletes of those countries that would announce it.

The international sports federations began to review the conditions of acceptance of Russian and Belarusian athletes after the recommendations of the IOC. We are talking about the gradual abandonment of the neutral class model: some organizations have already allowed performances under the national flag and the anthem. On July 7, 2026, the IOC Executive Committee temporarily reinstated the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee and recommended that the federations lift the restrictions on Russian athletes. The committee later extended this approach to youth competitions. The final word remains with the international federations. The opportunity to perform under national symbols has already been returned to World Boxing, the International Union of Modern Pentathlon and the World Federation of Dance Sports. At the same time, World Athletics and the International Biathlon Union maintain the same restrictions. IOC recommendations do not mean automatic acceptance to the Olympic Games. The IOC must decide separately on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles and the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. The reaction to these measures was difficult. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakana said Tallinn may refuse to participate in the Olympics if Russian athletes are returned to tournaments under the flag and anthem. A similar position was supported by Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Romania. In Moscow, the amendment of the restrictions is seen as the return of basic sports rights. Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Sports Dmitry Svichov said that a possible boycott would mainly harm the athletes of those countries that would announce it.