After years of being sidelined from international competitions due to widespread cheating scandals and its invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s potential return to the global sporting arena is now being strongly championed by an unexpected source: the Trump administration.
The recent announcement that a Russian team is set to participate in next month’s Paralympics has been met with widespread dismay across Europe. However, Paolo Zampolli, President Trump’s special representative for global partnerships, openly endorsed Russia’s involvement, stating simply in a text message, “I think sport is for all.”
These remarks stand in stark contrast to the sentiments expressed by many European leaders and Ukraine, whose team has declared a boycott of the opening ceremony. Even Italy, the host nation for the Paralympics, has voiced its “absolute opposition to the International Paralympic Committee’s decision.”
Despite Russia being prohibited from entering a national team in the ongoing Winter Games in Italy, there’s been a growing movement to end the country’s isolated status in the world of sports.
This month, the president of FIFA, global soccer’s governing body, indicated his desire for Russia to rejoin international competitions. Similarly, Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasized that sports should provide a “neutral ground” where “every athlete can compete freely.”
These sentiments echo those of Mr. Zampolli, who previously met with Russia’s sports minister in January during discussions held by the Olympic Council of Asia. Notably, Mr. Zampolli was also present at the Olympic opening ceremony alongside Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
It’s worth noting that the U.S. government was not among the 35 nations that signed a statement condemning the Paralympic governing body’s initial decision to lift Russia’s suspension back in September.
This week, the International Paralympic Committee (I.P.C.) announced that six Russian athletes and four from Belarus, which was also sanctioned for its role in Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have received wild card invitations to compete in skiing and snowboarding events next month. This marks Russia’s first involvement in the Paralympics since it hosted the games in Sochi in 2014.
Following the Sochi Games, Russia was exposed for operating a vast, state-sponsored doping program to boost its athletes’ performance. This led to a decade of sanctions and bans, preventing Russian athletes from officially representing their country at either the Olympics or Paralympics. While thirteen Russian athletes were permitted to compete as “neutral” individuals in this month’s Winter Games, they were strictly prohibited from displaying any Russian flags, national symbols, or playing their national anthem.
This policy was evident during the women’s figure skating finals on Thursday. Adeliia Petrosian, an 18-year-old Russian competing under a neutral banner, garnered significant support from the audience. Yet, her fans were explicitly forbidden from showcasing any symbols or displays that could be interpreted as Russian.
The Olympic rings in Cortina d’Ampezzo this month. Credit: James Hill for The New York Times.
In response, many spectators found creative ways to express their backing. One family from Moscow, for instance, wore matching cherry-red hoodies adorned with Ms. Petrosian’s image. Others proudly displayed homemade cardboard signs. When Ms. Petrosian took to the ice for her warm-up, the arena announcer introduced her simply as a “three-time national champion,” deliberately omitting any mention of a specific country.
Following her performance, she conveyed her disappointment with a sixth-place finish but gratefully acknowledged the encouragement she received from “Russian-speaking spectators.”
The International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) officially banned Russia in 2023 after the country incorporated sports institutions in several occupied regions of Ukraine. Russian officials have since contended that recent administrative reforms should warrant the lifting of this ban.
Mikhail V. Degtyarev, Russia’s sports minister, anticipates a decision from the I.O.C.’s executive board by May regarding the potential lifting of the ban. This decision could open the door for a Russian team to compete in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Should the I.O.C. decide to reinstate Russia, individual sports federations must still independently agree to lift their respective bans. Some, like those governing judo and taekwondo, have already moved to do so.
Notably, some high-ranking I.O.C. officials have publicly supported Russia’s bid for reinstatement.
“They’re definitely showing positive steps forward,” stated Prince Feisal Al Hussein, a Jordanian royal and I.O.C. board member, in a recent interview. “Ultimately, the Olympic movement champions inclusivity, not exclusivity, so we need to find a path for everyone to return. I believe they are properly addressing the issues we’ve raised.”
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has created further tensions at the Winter Games. Last week, a Ukrainian skeleton athlete faced disqualification for planning to wear a helmet honoring fallen compatriots, a gesture the I.O.C. deemed a violation of its rules against political expression.
A potentially tense situation is anticipated at the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 6. Russia’s team will be permitted to display its national flag and participate in the parade wearing national colors. Several European governments have already announced they will not send official delegations to the ceremony, and Estonia’s national broadcaster has stated it will not air events featuring Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.