The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that Israeli athletes will be allowed to compete under their national flag at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, as they have in previous Games.
The statement comes amid broader discussions about participation by other national delegations, but IOC President Kirsty Coventry stressed that suspending Israel was not under consideration. “The Olympics must remain a beacon of hope for athletes from around the world,” she said.
In response to questions about potential sanctions against Israel due to the ongoing war in Gaza, Coventry said, “Neither the IOC leadership under my direction nor any other forum in the organization has discussed barring athletes. The Olympic Games are meant to be a place of peaceful competition. Now more than ever, our movement has to showcase the good that is in humanity.”
The IOC continues to prohibit Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flags following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Those athletes are allowed to participate only under a neutral flag without national symbols.
Coventry added that security will be a top priority for the upcoming Games. “The priority for the organising committee, for the host country and for the IOC is to ensure safety of all our athletes and fans and anyone that comes into contact with the Games,” she said.
The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are scheduled for February 6–22, 2026.