What countries are banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics? Do neutral athletes for closing ceremony mean anything for those nations?

The road to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina has been under tight global scrutiny. Russia and Belarus will not compete as national teams at the Games. The International Olympic Committee took this step following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Belarus’s support of that action. As a result, neither country was seen marching under its flag, hear its anthem, or appear on the official medal table in Italy.Yet the story does not end with a total absence. A select group of athletes from those nations has entered the Games under a different label. They compete without national symbols and undergo strict eligibility checks. Now, one major question appears: what does participation as a neutral really mean on the Olympic stage? Russia and Belarus are the only countries barred from full participation at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in October 2023. Funding was cut, and the committee lost its right to send athletes under the Russian flag. The decision mirrors measures taken during the Paris 2024 Olympics.The ban stems from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which followed years of tension after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Belarus faced similar restrictions for its support of Russia’s military actions. As a result, both nations are excluded from competing as official delegations in Milan-Cortina. Individual Neutral Athletes have competed under the AIN designation throughout the Games. “Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) will be allowed to attend the closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, having not been present at the opening event.”Athletes from Russia and Belarus have competed without national colors or flags. They do not appear on the medal table. They were absent from the parade of nations in Milan, Cortina, and Livigno. However, the closing ceremony follows a different format. Competitors traditionally enter together rather than by country, allowing AIN athletes to take part in Verona.Only one AIN, Nikita Filippov, secured a medal with silver in men’s ski mountaineering. No neutral athlete won gold, which would have triggered the Olympic anthem instead of a national one. Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian placed sixth after a fall in her free skate.There are no current plans to restore Russia or Belarus to full Olympic status. However, the International Paralympic Committee has allowed limited participation next month. “The IPC are completely separate, they are not part of our organisation,” IOC president Kirsty Coventry said. “We are focusing on the final few days of the Games.” As of now, it is unclear if Russia will get clearance for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.