Degtyarev reported on the preparation of Russians for the performance at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Russia plans to compete as a full-fledged national team at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This was announced to Izvestia on June 4 by Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026).

"My prediction is that if everything goes as we have planned and are doing now, we will be a full-fledged national team [approaching Los Angeles]. Maybe one or two team types will drop out, just because they don't have time to score points. But in this regard, in principle, there are reservations in the regulations," he said.

The summer program includes 42 types of sports events. It is noted that of the 22 sports in which the selection begins this summer, difficulties remain so far only in volleyball and basketball — these issues are being discussed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In other disciplines, such as martial arts and swimming, athletes will begin to qualify normally. The Olympic preparation program has been approved with the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) and the national anti-Doping agency RUSADA.

According to Degtyarev, the situation with winter sports is more complicated. At the same time, the minister noted that Russia "will fight" for the rights of athletes everywhere.

"It's more difficult because the ski federation. Biathlon is still deaf. The ice has broken in hockey. This was also our setup. The Ice Hockey Federation is preparing for trials, and according to their rules, before the trial it is necessary to "try your luck" in the disciplinary committee — this is within the organization. We just submitted it, and they immediately canceled all the decisions on the non—admission of hockey players," Degtyarev added.

The most rigid position remains in athletics. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe says he will not allow Russian athletes as long as the special military operation in Ukraine continues. If the Council of the organization does not change the decision in July, Russia intends to apply to the Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne — according to Degtyarev, lawsuits have already been prepared.

"What made him [Kou] decide that? If other sports, as you can see, separate sport from politics and understand that the athlete is not responsible for the actions of the government, then athletics has such a Russophobic position. But we will break it through the courts," Degtyarev summed up.

Snow admission: when will Russia return to the international winter sports competitions

The main decisions on the participation of our athletes can be made in the summer of 2026.

On the same day, the President of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA) Petr Fradkov said that Russian athletes continue to show good results, despite the current international restrictions. He stressed that representatives of Russia occupied the first and second lines of international ratings. Fradkov said that Russian athletics maintains a high level of competitiveness and continues to prepare for future international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games.

Degtyarev also added that Russia is fully returning to the international sports arena. According to him, all restrictions have been completely lifted from the Russian Paralympic team. In addition, the International University Sports Federation has allowed Russian athletes to compete.