Russian, Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in 2026 Winter Olympics

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Friday in Milan that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to participate in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics as neutral individual athletes.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry reiterated during a press conference that the decision aligns with the approach taken for the 2024 Paris Olympics, maintaining the same conditions and requirements.

The IOC stated that neutral individual athletes who qualify through their respective International Federations' qualification processes will be eligible to compete, provided they meet the participation criteria established by the IOC.

According to the IOC's official website, 32 athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport participated in 10 sports during the Paris Olympics. The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, set to begin on Feb 6 next year, will follow the same regulations applied in Paris.

China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday vowed stronger capabilities and more diverse means to strike secessionist forces in Taiwan and oppose external interference.

The remarks were made by Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for the ministry, at a regular press briefing when responding to a question about two new guided-missile destroyers, Dongguan and Anqing, which recently completed their first formation training and live-fire exercises after being commissioned.

Jiang said achieving China's complete reunification is a prevailing trend, a just cause and the will of the people, pledging that the military will continue to strengthen combat readiness.

"Secessionists advocating 'Taiwan independence' would only face a dead end if they resist reunification by force," he said.