IOC Lifts Russian Olympic Committee Suspension but Ukraine Objects and IOC Bars Events in Russia

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on July 7. The board determined that the ROC no longer includes regional sports organisations in territories under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

The board stated that recommended conditions of participation for international federations and event organisers dating from February 2022 and March 2023 no longer apply.

It added that it will continue to monitor ROC activities. Individual federations and organisers now hold discretion over hosting events in Russia, inviting Russian officials, and permitting the display of the Russian flag, anthem or colours. The IOC itself will not organise events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to its events.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the IOC does not condone any wars, including Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She added that athletes should not pay the price for the actions of their government. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine said it strongly disagrees with the decision.

It described the move as premature and unjustified, noting that the Russian Federation continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed the decision in a Telegram post. He said Russia’s return to the Olympic family gives international federations a green light to reinstate all Russian athletes and that the Olympic movement must remain outside of politics.

The announcement followed a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv on July 6 that killed at least 22 people. Russia had also struck Kyiv on July 2, killing 31. The IOC had suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023 after Russia recognised regional Olympic councils in the occupied Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.