Russia celebrates! Our national teams finally return to all international tournaments

In 2022, the IOC recommended that federations exclude Russians from international tournaments, highlighting political bias. However, there were gradual relaxations, allowing some of our athletes to return to world and European championships in certain sports, albeit with restrictions. But team sports remained isolated: no relaxations were expected.
Finally, it was announced that the national team is back on the international stage. The long-awaited decision of the World Aquatics Federation.
Without age restrictions
In 2025, Russians participated in the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore under a neutral status, winning 18 medals, including six gold. The full return of Russia to the international arena in aquatics was premature, not just due to the absence of national symbols.
Russian athletes were allowed to compete under World Aquatics’ umbrella and qualify for world championships/Olympic Games. Continental tournaments were different—under the old rules, Russians couldn’t participate in the European Championships. However, according to new regulations published on the World Aquatics website, Russians can now compete in the European Championships.
For instance, in 2026, in France, not only swimmers, divers, and synchronized swimmers can compete but also water polo players. The document implies that Russian and Belarusian athletes can now participate neutrally in water polo tournaments, with no gender or age restrictions at all.
Awaiting bold decisions
The return of Russians in the first team sport was announced casually. Surely many federations wanted to bring back our athletes but feared being the first. World Aquatics released hesitant officials with the power to manage world football, volleyball, hockey, basketball.
Will similar movements happen in other team sports after water polo’s acceptance? It’s an interesting question, and it’s hard to answer now. Progress is likely, especially in federations where Russophobes have limited influence and Russia’s importance in a specific sport is significant, such as volleyball, handball, and field hockey.
Recalling how in October, the head of the Russian Volleyball Federation, Nikolai Patrushev, stated that the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) wished to welcome Russian clubs and teams back to their tournaments. In July, the International Handball Federation (IHF) asked the IOC to admit Russians and Belarusians back. Hope for the swift return of Russian teams was expressed by the International Field Hockey Federation (FIH). Perhaps now, if these federation leaders were genuine, it’s time for bold decisions independent of the IOC.