Rotenberg announced the expectation of the IOC's order on the admission of Russian athletes

Roman Rotenberg, Vice President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, said on February 9 that he expected the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to order the admission of Russian junior national teams to international competitions using national symbols.

"Now the IOC is discussing the issue in a different format, which will no longer be a recommendation, but a formal instruction will be given to the federations on the admission of Russia. <...> Therefore, we are waiting for the relevant decision of the IOC: so that there will no longer be a recommendation, but an order for all federations on the admission of Russia," TASS quoted Rotenberg as saying.

He noted that earlier the committee had simply given the federations a recommendation on the admission of the Russian national teams, while each federation makes the appropriate decision independently. According to him, the IOC was discussing the release of a full-fledged order after the end of the 2026 Olympics in Italy.

Now with the IOC: Russia accelerates its return to world sport

Sports authorities expand Russians' access to competitions

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on February 7 that world sport must realize that it will never be global without the participation of athletes from Russia. She noted that the IOC should make a decision on the full return of Russian athletes.

Former Italian Senator Gianluca Ferrara said on the same day that the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and their opening ceremony demonstrate the double standards of the West towards countries involved in conflicts. According to him, some states are excluded from competitions, while others, primarily Israel, are not subject to sports sanctions.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.