Athletes hailing from Russia and Belarus have been granted permission by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to compete as neutrals in the upcoming season, without showcasing any national symbols. The federation stated that athletes, coaches, and officials from these countries must sign a declaration of neutrality based on FIS-established principles to access FIS competitions, with the risk of potential sanctions if these guidelines are breached.
In a December ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Russian skiers successfully ended a nearly four-year ban from international events that was imposed during the conflict in Ukraine. This decision allowed them to rejoin World Cup events across various skiing disciplines in their pursuit to qualify for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics in February.
The FIS ruling council has reaffirmed its policy allowing neutral athletes to participate in the winter season starting next month. However, participation is limited to individual events, and the display of any country-specific symbols like flags, anthems, or uniforms is strictly prohibited, as outlined by FIS.
Despite these allowances, Russian athletes and team officials may encounter difficulties in obtaining visas to enter certain European countries that host World Cup competitions.