Olympia 2018: IOC publishes details for neutral Olympic starters from Russia

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced details on the equipment of Russian athletes flying the neutral flag and as a member of the Olympic Athlete from Russia team OAR (Olympic Athlete from Russia) at the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang (09). till 25. February) can participate.

This was preceded by a meeting of the “OAR Implementation Group” (OARIG) with representatives of the currently blocked Russian Olympic Committee.

Athlete’s suits, which are used for competitions, award ceremonies, training and recreational purposes, should only bear the two lettering “OAR” or “Olympic Athlete from Russia”. The lettering Russia should under no circumstances be bigger than the terms “Olympic Athlete from”. In the run-up to the match, it was criticised that the IOC allowed the name of Russia to be used at all, even though it was a neutral team.

In addition, it was announced that the suits of officials should only bear the lettering “OAR”. Only single or two-coloured elements can be seen on all uniforms, also in order to prevent the colour combination of the Russian flag from being reproduced in combination with other garments.

The so-called “OAR Implementation Group” decides by 28. January also about which Russian athletes are allowed to compete in Pyeongchang. The chairman of the three-person working group is Nicole Hoevertsz (Aruba).

In addition, the IOC published the reasons for the lifelong Olympic suspensions of three bobsleighers. These are the Sochi fourth-order Alexander Kasyanov, as well as his sliders Ilwir Chusin and Alexei Pushkarjow. All three athletes had violated the doping guidelines during the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 and were banned from all Olympic functions by the Oswald Commission of the IOC at the end of November.