Major Media Reveals Russian Athletes Supporting War in Winter Olympics

BBC reports that several Russian athletes qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics have been involved in activities supporting their country's invasion of Ukraine. Due to the war, Russian athletes have been banned from international competitions or forced to compete as independent athletes, with 13 Russians currently cleared to participate. The BBC indicates that intelligence sources suggest many of these athletes may not meet the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) evaluation criteria, which prohibits supporting the war. Additionally, an IOC credentials committee member was photographed embracing a Russian athlete previously punished for supporting the war, raising further suspicions about the verification process. The BBC named at least four athletes with evidence of supporting the war: Peter Gumennik (figure skating), Ksenia Korshova (speed skating), Saveli Korostelev (cross-country skiing), and Dariya Nepryaeva (cross-country skiing). The Winter Olympics will be held in Italy, with opening ceremonies on February 6th and closing ceremonies on February 22nd.