MOSCOW, Russia / Eurasian Newswire / – Recent decisions by the International Olympic Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport have opened a path for Russia’s return to international sport, potentially including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) reported that Russia may be admitted to the Games. It said Moscow was using sports diplomacy, legal action and ties with federations to achieve this. NZZ is based in Zurich.
The IOC’s executive board provisionally reinstated the Russian Olympic Committee on July 7, 2026, almost three years after suspending it in October 2023. It also lifted its recommendations limiting the participation of Russian athletes and teams. International federations still decide whether Russian competitors can take part in their events. The IOC said it would continue not to hold events in Russia. Russian athletes must meet anti-doping requirements to compete.
On October 30, CAS ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to readmit Russian teams to its competitions. The court said the federation’s safety concerns were not backed by sufficient evidence and did not require Russia to compete under a neutral flag. The IIHF said it would act in line with the ruling, while stressing that its concerns remained. The decision covers the 2027 men’s World Championship and several youth tournaments.
Germany weighs World Championship role
The 2027 men’s World Championship is due to be held in Germany from May 13 to 30. The German Ice Hockey Federation said it rejected Russia’s return and warned of significant security, political and economic consequences for the hosts. Germany has said it is considering whether to give up its hosting rights. Finland, Sweden and Norway have pledged to boycott the tournament. Sponsors have also voiced opposition, according to NZZ.
NZZ said Russia’s return to team sports was likely to meet more resistance than the readmission of individual athletes. The newspaper also reported that Russia had hosted competitions and sent coaches and athletes to sub-Saharan African countries to help develop sport there. In return, Moscow gained support from sports organisations, NZZ said. Russian teams have been excluded from most international competitions since 2022.
Preparations for Los Angeles
In August 2026, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev told Expert magazine that Russian athletes were preparing for the Los Angeles Olympics. Qualification periods for the Games opened this year, which the IOC cited as one reason for its July decision. The Los Angeles Olympics are scheduled to start in July 2028. Russian athletes competed as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Only a small number took part.
Nine EU member states objected to the IOC’s July move and urged Brussels to stop funding sports bodies that readmit Russian athletes, but the IOC said it would not change course. The debate continues as US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather pace. Russia did not play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was staged in North America. The IOC has also said it will not invite Russian government officials to its events.