On Air Now

Up Before the Alarm

5:00am - 7:00am

Now Playing

Lovejoy

Call Me What You Like

All restrictions on Belarusian athletes lifted by Olympic bosses

The International Olympic Committee has lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes.

The move clears the way for their return to international ​competitions, including at qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, where Belarus was used as a staging ​ground, the Olympic governing body had recommended ​Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials be banned ‌from events.

The organisation has now said: "The IOC executive board no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions ​governed by International Federations and international sports event organisers."

Belarusian athletes ⁠can now compete freely under their own flag and anthem, including in team sports.

They can also ‌take part in all qualifying events beginning later this year for the 2028 Games.

Read more from Sky News:
PSG set up Champions League final against Arsenal

Shell gives update on costly war damage to its output

Just a few Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics - in individual events only and as neutral athletes without their flag.

The IOC said restrictions would not be lifted for Russian athletes.

There has been speculation that a ​similar decision could be made for Moscow in ​the coming months.

Russia's Olympic committee was suspended in October 2023 ⁠for recognising regional Olympic councils for Russian-occupied ​regions of Ukraine - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - following the invasion of Ukraine.

The Olympic body said this had violated the Olympic Charter and the territorial integrity of Ukraine's ‌Olympic Committee.

"The situation relating to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) ​is different from that relating to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of ⁠Belarus. The NOC of Belarus is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter," the IOC said.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: All restrictions on Belarusian athletes lifted by Olympic bosses

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

 

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from World

Donate to Roch Valley Radio

 

Recently Played

Newsletter

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

   

Coming up next On Air

  • Up Before the Alarm

    5:00am - 7:00am

    for early starters, commuters and anyone already on their second brew. Livelier music and new voices warming things up before breakfast.

  • Friday Breakfast

    7:00am - 10:00am

    getting you out of bed and to work and school with great music and headlines.

  • Spooky Talk

    10:00am - Noon

    with Gemma Johnson, playing a mixture of her favourite music with a sprinkling of the spooky to breathe life into your Friday morning.

  • Pauline

    Noon - 2:00pm

  • The Wellness Hour

    2:00pm - 3:00pm

    with Kim G, a warm and accessible wellbeing hour offering practical self-care tips, grounded health insight, and a gentle Friday wind-down.

  • Friday Drivetime

    3:00pm - 6:00pm

    getting you home on your favourite Drivetime station.