Ukrainian Olympic champion Beleniuk says 2026 will be year of Russia's mass return to international sport

Ukrainian MP and Olympic champion Zhan Beleniuk believes that 2026 will see a mass return of Russian athletes to international competitions, including under their own national symbols.

Source: Beleniuk on Telegram

Quote: "Unfortunately, 2026 will be the year of Russia's mass return to international sport – including under its own symbols. This can already be stated as a fact. Is this fair? No, it is not fair. But this is politics.

And we have long understood that sport is an integral part of politics, and a part that is far from always fair. Should Ukrainian sport stop? No. While the war continues, the task of each of us is to shout about it everywhere we can."

Background:

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently recommended allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at international events at the junior level under their own national flags.
• Athletes from Russia have already been admitted to competitions in chess, fencing, volleyball and aquatic sports.
• In addition, Ukraine's Ministry of Youth and Sports has amended its order on boycotting international tournaments in which representatives of Russia and/or Belarus compete under their own national symbols.

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