The 2026 Winter Paralympics will see the return of Russian and Belarusian flags in stark contrast to what we saw just a few weeks ago with the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina.
It's the first time since 2014 that athletes from both countries will be able to compete under the banner of their nation following on from Russia's doping scandal of the mid-2010s and Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Coming in to the 2026 Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) took a different approach to the last decade and a bit of policy, officially allowing both nations to return to the medal table.
The same can't be said for athletes in the summer and winter Olympics, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) taking a different stance altogether - leading to the seven countries boycotting the opening ceremony.
Why can Russia and Belarus compete in the 2026 Winter Paralympics?
The IPC voted in September last year to reinstate the Russian Paralympic Committee, which marked the official return of the Russian flag and anthem being played for all their potential athletes.
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Ultimately, the reasoning came down to the IPC wanting to make the sporting event as apolitical as possible.
The Guardian reported that there was a feeling of inconsistency in the policy with allowing Israeli athletes to represent their country given the ongoing conflict with Gaza and Palestine.
At the time it was thought it would be too small of a window for Russia to compete in the 2026 Winter Paralympics, given bans that still existed under qualifying competitions such as the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
But in December last year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian athletes who qualified for the Paralympics can perform under the Russian flag instead of competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete (stylised as AIN).
As a result, six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will compete in the 2026 Games.
Why can't Russia and Belarus compete in the Winter or Summer Olympics?
Ultimately, the Paralympics and Olympics are run by two completely separate organisations - the IPC and the IOC.
Back in 2023, the IOC took its own approach to banning the two countries after Russia's invasion of Ukraine given the invasion violated Ukraine's 'territorial integrity'.
At the time, the IOC said the ban 'was made after consultations with the International Federations concerned and the other Olympic Movement stakeholders'.
It added: "This position reflects the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee because of its annexation of regional sports organisations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
"Such action constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognised by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter."
As a result, no Russian flags, anthems, or an official team delegation for the opening and closing ceremony was seen at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Instead, Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as Individual Neutral Athletes.
What is an Individual Neutral Athlete?
To qualify as an Individual Neutral Athlete, Russian and Belarusian athletes must not have shown active support for the war on Ukraine.
They also aren't allowed to have worked for state or military security agencies.
Ultimately, qualification is approved by international federations, with all AIN athletes competing under a neutral flag. No team games are permitted, such as ice hockey.
Topics: Olympics, Paralympics, Winter Olympics, Russia
Tom Earnshaw