{"id":172366,"date":"2026-01-20T18:02:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/172366\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"noc-approves-five-athletes-for-2026-winter-olympics","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/172366\/","title":{"rendered":"NOC approves five athletes for 2026 Winter Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Hanna Hu\u015bkova\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (National Olympic Committee)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January 20, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The Belarusian National Olympic Committee (NOC) has approved five athletes to participate in the <\/em><\/strong>Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina scheduled for February 6 \u2013 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maryja \u0160kanova represents alpine skiing; Maryna Zujeva, speed skating;\u00a0Hanna Karalova, cross-country skiing; Viktoryja Safonava, figure skating; and Hanna Hu\u015bkova, aerials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will compete at the Olympics as individual neutral athletes. More Belarusian athletes may still be included after the redistribution of quotas in aerials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian biathletes will miss this year\u2019s Winter Olympic Games based on the allocation of quota places by the International Biathlon Union (IBU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Russia invaded Ukraine from Belarus in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, it recommended that some could be allowed as neutral athletes under certain conditions, such as not supporting the war. In December 2023, the IOC allowed neutrals to compete in the 2024 Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian government has been accused of discriminating against hundreds of athletes who spoke out against violence and the rigged election in 2020. Many athletes fled Belarus, fearing political reprisals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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