The Russian flag and anthem are returning to European gymnastics competitions
European Gymnastics has decided to once again allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete without special restrictions at competitions under its authority, which means that the national flags, emblems and anthems of those two countries are returning to the European gymnastics scene. According to the announcement by the European federation, the Executive Committee of European Gymnastics accepted the decision of the world federation World Gymnastics, which earlier in May abolished the extraordinary rules introduced after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The decision by European Gymnastics was made after an electronic vote and still needs to be formally confirmed at an extraordinary online General Assembly, but the federation stated that it would follow the decision of the world governing organization. This brings to an end the period in which Russian and Belarusian gymnasts, when they were able to compete at all, had to undergo special checks and compete under neutral status, without national symbols.
The decision is important because it does not apply only to one competition or one discipline, but to the system of European gymnastics competitions as a whole. European Gymnastics brings together continental competitions in artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, acrobatic gymnastics, aerobic gymnastics and other disciplines that are part of the international gymnastics system. According to the available information, the new rules enable the return of Russian and Belarusian representatives under national emblems wherever European Gymnastics regulations apply. This also includes the possibility of playing the anthem at medal ceremonies if athletes from those countries win a title or another medal for which the protocol provides for state symbols.
The European federation follows the decision of World Gymnastics
In its announcement, European Gymnastics states that it will align with the decision of World Gymnastics to abolish all restrictions on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus, because the extraordinary rules of the world federation are no longer in force. World Gymnastics, the international federation also known by the abbreviation FIG, announced on 18 May 2026 that its Executive Committee had decided to immediately abolish the restrictions that had applied to Russian and Belarusian athletes since February 2022. According to the official FIG announcement, this ended the validity of the ad hoc rules adopted in the context of the war in Ukraine. That decision opened the way for continental federations, including European Gymnastics, to adapt their own rules to the new position of the world organization.
The European decision followed several days after the move by the world federation and clearly relies on it. European Gymnastics did not present a separate political or sporting framework, but explained the decision by the fact that the rules of World Gymnastics had ceased to apply. This is important for understanding jurisdiction: the international federation sets the basic rules for the sport at the global level, while continental organizations manage their competitions within that system. In practice, when the world federation abolishes the neutral-status regime, the European organization has a strong institutional incentive to harmonize its own regulations so that no legal and competitive discrepancy arises.
According to reports by international sports media and agencies, the decision means that athletes from Russia and Belarus no longer have to compete as approved neutral athletes, nor are national symbols banned for them at FIG and European gymnastics competitions. During the previous neutrality regime, they were not allowed to use flags, colours, anthems or other markings that would directly connect them with a national team. The system also included checks for links to the war, public support for the invasion and, in some cases, links to military or security structures. With the abolition of these special rules, that regime in gymnastics is changing substantially.
From a complete ban to neutral status
After the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes were subjected to a series of restrictions in international sport. In March 2022, World Gymnastics first introduced measures against Russia and Belarus, including the exclusion of athletes and officials from competitions under its authority. Later, some athletes were able to compete again, but only under a strictly prescribed neutral status. Such a model was similar to the approach applied by many international sports federations: athletes were allowed to compete individually if they met special conditions, while national teams, state emblems and anthems remained excluded.
In the European context, a special turning point occurred at the end of 2025, when European Gymnastics at its congress in Prague approved the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to continental competitions from 1 January 2026, but under restrictions. According to reports from the session, the decision was not unanimous: some members supported the lifting of the complete ban, while others opposed it or abstained. This created a transitional model in which athletes could compete, but without state symbols and under special rules. The latest decision goes one step further because it restores not only sporting presence, but also national representation in the full symbolic sense.
The difference between neutral status and a full return is not only technical. In international sport, the flag, anthem and name of the national team form part of the official identity of competitors and the country they represent. That is why the restrictions introduced in 2022 were conceived as sporting sanctions with political and symbolic weight, and their abolition has a broader meaning than the mere possibility of competing. For opponents of such decisions, the return of national emblems means the normalization of a state that is waging war against Ukraine, while advocates of easing restrictions argue that athletes should not be collectively punished for the actions of their governments.
Ukraine and some sports actors criticize the change of direction
The decision by World Gymnastics drew criticism in Ukraine. According to reports by international media, the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation requested an urgent reaction and an extraordinary congress after the FIG decision to abolish restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes. The Ukrainian side believes that the decision is being made while the war is still ongoing and warns that the return of the flag and anthem carries a political message that goes beyond the sporting arena. Such reactions fit into the broader Ukrainian position toward international sports organizations that are gradually easing sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
The criticism is not limited only to gymnastics. In recent months, similar debates have also taken place in other sports, including swimming and combat sports, after decisions by individual international federations to ease or abolish restrictions. According to reports by the British Guardian, Ukrainian athletes and officials sharply criticized decisions that again allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their flag and anthem, describing them as unacceptable while the war continues. At the same time, some federations argue that competitions should remain open to athletes who meet the rules and that the sports system must not be permanently transformed into a mechanism of collective bans.
In gymnastics, the dispute is additionally sensitive because Russia was for years one of the most successful gymnastics nations, especially in artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. The return of its athletes under national symbols can directly affect competition at European and world events, but also the atmosphere among athletes coming from countries affected by the war. Ukrainian athletes and coaches had already warned earlier that they compete in circumstances in which sports halls, clubs and infrastructure in their country have been affected by the war. For that reason, decisions on the return of Russian emblems are not perceived only as an administrative change, but as a question of fairness and solidarity.
The decision differs from the current Olympic approach toward Russia
The latest move by the gymnastics federations does not automatically mean that Russia has been fully returned to the Olympic system under national emblems. The International Olympic Committee still retains separate authority for the Olympic Games and its own conditions for participation. According to official IOC information, for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Russian and Belarusian athletes were able to compete only as individual neutral athletes, under conditions that exclude teams, national emblems and persons connected with active support for the war or military and security structures. This shows that the decisions of international federations and the Olympic body do not always have to be fully aligned.
At the same time, on 7 May 2026 the International Olympic Committee announced that it no longer recommends restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes in competitions under the authority of international federations and organizers of international sporting events. That recommendation referred to Belarus, while the position of Russia remains more complex due to the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and the broader context of the war. The decision by World Gymnastics went further because it abolished restrictions for both countries, Russia and Belarus. For that reason, the coming period will be closely watched to see whether a similar approach will spread to other sports or whether gymnastics will remain one of the examples of a faster return of national symbols.
For several years, the Olympic system has been facing different rules in individual sports. Some federations have maintained strict bans, some allow only neutral individual appearances, and some have begun restoring national emblems. World Athletics, for example, according to reports by international media, still maintains a stricter approach toward Russian and Belarusian athletes, while World Aquatics and World Gymnastics have moved toward a broader abolition of restrictions. Such inconsistency creates a complex situation for athletes, national federations and competition organizers, because the rules depend on the individual federation, discipline and level of competition.
What is changing at European competitions
For European gymnastics competitions, the most visible change will be the return of national markings next to the names of Russian and Belarusian athletes. This may include displaying the flag in official results, using national colours on equipment and playing the anthem in the event of victory. According to the decision by European Gymnastics, the abolition of restrictions stems from the fact that the extraordinary rules of World Gymnastics no longer apply. In practical terms, competition organizers will have to adapt protocols, accreditations, ceremonies and communication materials to the new status of athletes from Russia and Belarus.
It is still not entirely clear whether additional procedural clarifications will appear along with formal confirmation at the extraordinary online General Assembly. In its announcement, European Gymnastics stated that the decision would be ratified soon, but it did not present a broader package of implementation details in that announcement. Such details could be important for national federations registering athletes, for competition organizers and for host countries. Security protocols, possible reactions from other national teams and the way in which possible protests or requests for boycotts of individual competitions will be handled will be followed in particular.
For the athletes themselves, the decision may mean easier access to international competition, points, results and qualification pathways. In gymnastics, continental and world competitions are important for rankings, team selections and sporting development, especially in disciplines in which Russian and Belarusian competitors have traditionally had a strong role. The return of those athletes changes the competition, but also the pressure on other national teams that in recent years have competed without them or against neutral individuals. The sporting effect of the decision will become visible only after the new rules begin to be applied at a larger number of competitions.
A broader sign of change in international sport
The return of the Russian flag and anthem to European gymnastics is part of a broader debate about how long sporting sanctions should last and under what conditions they can be lifted. Since 2022, international sport has been trying to reconcile several opposing principles: the protection of Ukrainian athletes and condemnation of aggression, the right of individuals to compete, the autonomy of sports federations and pressure from governments and the public. None of these questions is resolved by a simple administrative decision, and the latest move by European Gymnastics shows that the balance in some sports is shifting toward reintegration.
According to the official explanation by gymnastics bodies, the key reason for the change is the expiry of the special rules of World Gymnastics. But the political and symbolic effect of the decision will be significantly broader. Scenes that had been excluded since 2022 could once again appear at European gymnastics competitions: Russian and Belarusian emblems on competition floors, official lists and victory ceremonies. For some, this will be the return of athletes to the regular competitive system, and for others a sign that international federations are giving up too early on the sanctions introduced because of the war in Ukraine.
In the coming weeks, attention will be focused on the formal ratification of the European Gymnastics decision, the first registrations of athletes under the new rules and the reactions of national federations. It is currently clear that gymnastics is among the sports that are moving most quickly from the model of neutral participation to the model of a full return of national symbols. At the same time, the question remains open whether such an approach will become more widely accepted in international sport or whether differences among federations will further deepen the legal and political inconsistency that has accompanied Russian and Belarusian sport since February 2022.
Sources:
- European Gymnastics – decision of the Executive Committee regarding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus (link)
- World Gymnastics / FIG – official Executive Committee news for May 2026 and the abolition of special rules (link)
- World Gymnastics / FIG – earlier decision and measures introduced after the start of the war in Ukraine (link)
- International Olympic Committee – official questions and answers on sanctions, Ukraine and the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes (link)
- International Olympic Committee – announcement on the lifting of recommended restrictions for Belarusian athletes (link)
- Reuters / The Star – report on the World Gymnastics decision and the immediate abolition of restrictions (link)
- Forbes – report on the reaction of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation and the request for an urgent congress (link)