Olympic biathlon champion Dmitry Vasiliev believes it is unlikely that Russians will be allowed to fully participate in the 2026 Winter Games.
In winter Olympic sports, no federation has yet allowed Russian athletes to participate in international competitions, even in neutral status.
— I want to talk only about full participation in the Winter Olympics, and not about any other status. Our athletes went to the Olympics in Paris, they were completely humiliated there, they were not allowed to attend the opening and closing ceremonies, they were not allowed to carry boats. Why go through such humiliation? For what? You must go there only on an equal footing. With the anthem, the flag, with participation in all disciplines, including team ones. This is the only way.
— So you think the chances of participation are low?
“It is unlikely that we will be allowed to form a team. Now I think that this whole story will last a long time. Previously, sport united and smoothed out rough edges. Today, Western athletes express their intolerance and hatred towards everything related to Russia and Russian athletes. The degree of hatred towards our athletes and Russia as a whole is so great that I do not know how long it will take for this situation to change,” Vasiliev told .
The Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from 6 to 22 February 2026.
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Source : MatchTV
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