Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The Russian flag flew, and the Russian anthem played once more at a major international sporting event this weekend. This marked a significant moment for Russian sport, signaling a gradual return to the global stage after a decade of suspensions and restrictions. The breakthrough came courtesy of alpine skier Varvara Vorontchikhina, who secured gold in the Super-G at the Paralympic Winter Games, adding to her bronze medal in the downhill event earlier in the competition. It was the first time the Russian anthem has been heard at the Paralympics since 2014.
For ten years, Russian sport has been largely sidelined, initially due to state-sponsored doping scandals and more recently, as a consequence of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While some Russian athletes have been permitted to compete as neutral athletes at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, they were barred from displaying national symbols. The 2021 Olympic team, competing under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee, offered a symbolic workaround, gathering behind a flag featuring the colors of the Russian flag and listening to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 as their anthem.
A Gradual Reintegration: Event by Event, Sport by Sport
Although, as of recent days, Russia is officially back on the world sporting stage, complete with its national anthem and flag. The Paralympics represent a key step in this process – and many believe it’s just the beginning. The sporting world is slowly adjusting to Russia’s return, a process unfolding “event by event, sport by sport,” as Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev recently stated. “The Games of 2026 will be the last for Russians in a neutral status,” Degtyarev predicted.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) paved the way for this return in September of last year, when its General Assembly voted overwhelmingly against maintaining the suspension of Russia and Belarus. The decision to allow participation was hailed by Vladimir Putin as “a great victory for all of us.”
Despite the IPC’s decision, some winter sports federations initially resisted allowing Russian athletes to compete, potentially jeopardizing their qualification for the Paralympics. Russia and Belarus subsequently filed a complaint against the International Ski Federation (ISF) with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS ruled in favor of the two nations, stating that the ISF would be violating its own statutes by excluding them. The court determined that preventing Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing was discriminatory. Six Russian athletes were granted wildcard entries to the Paralympic Games.
The return isn’t limited to the Paralympics. In judo, Russian athletes have been competing under their national flag since late 2025. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has too expressed hope for Russia’s reintegration into international football, and the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation has similarly advocated for the swift return of Russia and Belarus to competition. An IOC summit in Lausanne last December recommended allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in international youth competitions with their national anthems and team uniforms, acknowledging that “athletes, especially young athletes, should not be held responsible for the actions of their governments.” The next Youth Olympic Games are scheduled to grab place in Dakar, Senegal, in October.
Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia’s Minister of Sport, immediately congratulated Vorontchikhina via Telegram, expressing his pride that “the Russian anthem is being played again.” Degtyarev also currently serves as the President of the Russian Olympic Committee, a position he assumed in December 2024, according to the Russian Olympic Committee website. He was previously the Governor of Khabarovsk Krai from September 2021 until May 2024, and a member of the State Duma from 2011 to 2020. Born in 1981, Degtyarev holds a law degree and a Master’s degree in International Relations, and is a Master of Sport in Fencing.
The path back to full participation hasn’t been without hurdles. The initial decision by the IPC to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes was met with criticism from some quarters, particularly from nations that have strongly condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine. However, the IPC maintained that its decision was based on the principle of non-discrimination and the belief that athletes should not be penalized for the actions of their governments.
The situation remains fluid, and the extent of Russia’s return to international sport will likely depend on a number of factors, including the ongoing geopolitical situation and the willingness of individual sports federations to lift restrictions. However, the scenes in Cortina d’Ampezzo – the Russian flag flying, the Russian anthem playing – represent a clear signal that the process of reintegration is underway.
As the world watches, the question remains: will this gradual return extend to the Olympic Games, and if so, under what conditions? The coming months will be crucial in determining the future of Russian sport on the global stage.
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