MOSCOW, Russia / Eurasian Newswire / – Russia could be allowed to take part in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) has reported. The newspaper said decisions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the efforts of Russian sports officials were driving a possible return. Moscow is pursuing that goal through sports diplomacy, legal proceedings and cooperation with national federations, according to NZZ.
According to NZZ, Russia has hosted competitions and sent athletes and coaches to countries in sub-Saharan Africa to help them develop their sport. In return, Moscow received support from sports organisations. The newspaper said this strategy had helped Russia build backing for its return to international competition. Russian athletes have been largely excluded from major events since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
On July 7, 2026, the IOC provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and withdrew its recommendations to restrict the participation of Russian athletes and teams. The committee had been suspended in October 2023 for recognising regional sports councils in occupied Ukrainian territories. The suspension had lasted almost three years. The final decision on admission to competitions remains with international federations. Athletes must also meet anti-doping requirements.
Ice hockey ruling sets precedent
Another step came on October 30, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian teams back into its competitions. The court found that the IIHF’s safety arguments were not supported by sufficient evidence. The IIHF said it would comply with the decision, although it disagreed with it. CAS gave no guidance on how Russia’s participation should be organised. The ruling covers the 2027 men’s World Championship in Germany.
NZZ said Russia’s return to team sports could face stronger resistance than the admission of individual athletes. Several national federations and sponsors have opposed the Russian team’s participation in the 2027 World Championship, which runs from May 13 to 30 in Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Mannheim. The German Ice Hockey Federation said it rejected the return of Russian national teams. Finland, Sweden and Norway have pledged to boycott the tournament.
Nine EU states objected to IOC move
The IOC’s July decision drew criticism from several European governments. Nine EU member states asked Brussels to stop funding sports bodies that readmitted Russian athletes, but the IOC said it would not change its position. The IOC also said it would continue not to hold events in Russia or invite Russian government officials. Russia did not take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
In August 2026, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev spoke to Expert magazine about the preparation of Russian athletes for the Los Angeles Games. Qualification periods for the 2028 Olympics opened this year. The Los Angeles Games are scheduled to open in July 2028. Paris hosted the previous Summer Games in 2024. The debate over Russia’s return comes as US-brokered efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue, with President Donald Trump saying a deal could be close.