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≡ RUSSIA ≡
The Russian news agency TASS is wholly-owned and operated by the Russian government, so when it quotes unnamed sources, that’s interesting.
On Wednesday, TASS quoted a source from the Russian Olympic Committee about the continuation of a ban on Russian teams in International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournaments, including the Olympic qualifying program (computer translation from the original Russian):
“In general, the IIHF’s decision to bar Russian hockey players from the World Championship was expected and politically acceptable, especially since it can be challenged in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“An important point is that this decision does not concern the 2026 Olympics. By deciding to maintain the suspension and still not allow our team to participate in the [2026] World Championship in Switzerland, the IIHF avoided the risk of immediate protests from national hockey federations in countries that are most radically opposed to Russia, which would, in principle, jeopardize the holding of the championship.
“The main thing now is the Olympics, the path there is still not closed.
“The decision will be made by the IOC, which has recently become increasingly loyal to our country. It is worth noting once again that the decision to extend the ban on participation in the World Championships can be appealed by the FHR [Russian Ice Hockey Federation] to CAS.”
Observed: What the TASS source does not say is that whether Russia is somehow allowed in to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games will very much depend on who is elected as the President of the International Olympic Committee on 20 March at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.
If World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) is elected – and he is a significant contender – then Russia’s chances will be poor, as Russia is still banned from World Athletics championship events.
Other candidates, such as gymnastics head Morinari Watanabe (JPN), skiing chief Johan Eliasch (GBR), cycling president David Lappartient (FRA) or long-time member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. are elected, Russia’s chances are better, but hardly assured.
But as with so many things in the Olympic Movement, who leads the IOC will likely decide the issue.
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