How Russian and Belarusian Athletes Compete in 2026 Olympics

Controversy Surrounds Security for 2026 Winter Olympics Amidst Athlete Restrictions and Political Tensions

Milan, Italy – The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are facing a confluence of controversies, ranging from the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under neutral status to heated debates over the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in security operations. The Games are scheduled to begin on February 6, 2026.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), a decision made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, according to Time magazine. The IOC defines AIN as "athletes with Belarusian or Russian passports who have been confirmed as eligible and invited to compete."

Adding to the complexities, the potential involvement of U.S. ICE agents in Olympic security has sparked outrage from Milan's Mayor Giuseppe Sala. Multiple news sources report that Sala strongly condemned the possible presence of ICE, referring to them as a "militia" and declaring them unwelcome in Milan. Sala expressed concerns about ICE's methods and questioned whether Italy could refuse U.S. assistance, insisting that Italy can handle security independently.

While ICE claims its role is limited to supporting diplomatic security and mitigating risks from transnational criminal organizations under Italian authority, Sala remains skeptical. The controversy surrounding ICE comes amidst heightened scrutiny of the agency following the recent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis has fueled calls for reform and oversight of ICE, with some lawmakers pushing for changes to the agency's operations.

In other news from the sports world, Elina Svitolina delivered a stunning upset at the Australian Open, defeating Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals, according to BBC Breaking. Gauff expressed frustration and called for more player privacy after footage of her racquet smash surfaced. Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, continued her dominant run, defeating Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 and setting up a highly anticipated semi-final clash with Svitolina.