IOC: Russians Barred from Representing Country at Winter Olympics, Even if Ukraine War Ends

• IOC chief Kirsty Coventry confirmed Russians cannot represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, even if the Ukraine war concludes.
• Russian athletes will participate only as individuals, without national flags or anthems, a decision made in September after the 2022 invasion.
• The ban on Russia and Belarus stems from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
• Coventry, the IOC's first woman president, noted that multi-city Olympics, like Milano Cortina, will become the "new normality."
• The Milano Cortina games are set to take place from February 6 to 22.

Why It Matters: IOC confirms Russians cannot represent their country at Winter Olympics, even post-Ukraine war.