The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete as neutrals in the upcoming winter season. The athletes, coaches, and officials from these countries must sign a declaration of neutrality based on FIS principles to participate in FIS competitions without displaying any national symbols.
Following a December ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Russian skiers were granted permission to compete in Alpine, cross-country, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding events after a nearly four-year ban due to the conflict in Ukraine. This decision enables them to vie for spots in the Milan Cortina Olympics scheduled for February.
The FIS ruling council has reaffirmed the policy allowing neutral athlete participation in individual events for the forthcoming winter season. However, athletes are prohibited from showcasing any country symbols like flags, anthems, or uniforms during competitions.
Despite the approval to compete, Russian athletes and team officials may encounter difficulties in obtaining visas to enter certain European countries hosting World Cup races.