World Archery Allows Russian Athletes to Compete Under National Flag

The World Archery Federation has permitted Russian athletes to compete at its events under their national flag and anthem. The federation announced Friday that its Executive Board held an online meeting to review a July 7, 2026, decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that ended previous recommendations restricting the participation of Russian athletes.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Following the review, the Executive Board lifted restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes, teams, and officials in competitions organized directly by the federation, such as the Archery World Cup and World Championships. The federation stated that the restrictions on the use of the Russian flag and anthem, which were introduced in 2022, have been canceled. A similar decision regarding Belarus was adopted in May. Participation by Russian athletes remains subject to standard eligibility and anti-doping requirements outlined in the federation’s rules, as well as the host country’s regulations and visa restrictions. The ruling applies to competitions held directly under the auspices of World Archery. Participation in events organized by World Archery Europe remains under the jurisdiction of the continental federation. World Archery stated it will continue its dialogue with World Archery Europe regarding the implementation of the decision and noted its support for the Ukrainian archery community. Ukraine appeals IOC decision The World Archery ruling follows the IOC’s July 7 decision to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which scrapped a range of restrictions imposed on Russian athletes in October 2023. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Confirms Flamingo Missile Strikes Deep in Russian Territory President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian long-range weapons struck the Progress space center in Samara and the Savasleyka air base. Earlier, Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) requesting the annulment of the IOC decision. The NOC stated the appeal aims to protect the principles of the Olympic Charter and international law. Ukraine’s Olympic Committee argued that the IOC’s decision contradicted the provisions of the Olympic Charter by failing to account for the factual circumstances that served as the basis for the original suspensions. Neither the IOC nor the Russian Olympic Committee has commented on the appeal. The IOC ruling follows a broader pattern of sporting authorities gradually readmitting Russian athletes. World Gymnastics lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes in May, and the European Fencing Confederation reinstated Russia in June. European commentators warn of troubling signal The IOC’s decision has drawn criticism from commentators in Europe. Swedish outlet Expressen and Estonia’s Delfi both published editorials criticizing the ruling and questioning the response from Ukraine’s allies. Russia’s re-entry into international institutions has extended beyond sports. At the Venice Biennale, the Russian pavilion resumed operations this year for the first time since 2022. In response, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency terminated a €2 million ($2.2 million) grant to the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia on July 21, following a legal assessment recommended by the European Commission. A European Commission spokesperson stated that cultural events funded by European taxpayers should safeguard democratic values. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.