Ukrainian sports minister decries signs IOC may soften restrictions on Russian athletes

Ukraine's sports minister decried actions by the International Olympic Committee that his government says indicate the body may soon ease restrictions against Russian athletes, allowing them to once again represent their country in future Olympic Games. At the Milan Cortina Olympics, 13 Russians are competing as “Individual Neutral Athletes”, meaning they cannot wear any Russian symbols and won’t hear the Russian national anthem if they win a gold medal. Matvii Bidnyi, Ukraine's minister of youth and sports, told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday in Milan that any change would be “irresponsible” and appear to condone Russia's invasion as the war's fourth anniversary approaches.