In the past two years, Belarusian and Russian judokas could participate in tournaments under the auspices of the International Judo Federation (IJF), but without national symbols. Shortly before the next World Judo World Cup, the federation made a long -awaited decision, returning the flag to representatives of one of the previously detached countries.

Is there enough courage to resolve national symbols and Russian judokas?

“Under the state flag”

Since the spring of 2022, after the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), many Federations closed access to athletes from Russia and Belarus to their tournaments. Some, however, having paused, decided to return athletes from two countries, though in a neutral status. Among them was the International Federation of Judo.

At the very beginning of March 2022, IJF even tried to resist the IOC, announcing that Russians and Belarusians would be able to speak under the flags of their countries. But this decision was soon changed, the athletes missed the World Cup. And already in 2023 they returned to tournaments under the auspices of the Federation, although without state symbols.

In September 2024, the Federation decided on another symbolic step: our judokas were freed from the humiliating emblem of neutral athletes (Ain), replacing it with the stripes of the International Federation (IJF). And the day before it became known that on June 1, the flag would be returned. True, so far only Belarusian athletes.

“IJF President Marius Wizer noted that the Federation is looking forward to the opportunity to welcome Belarusian athletes on the tatami under the state flag of the country, supporting many years of values ​​and traditions of judo,” the website of the National Olympic Committee (NOK) of Belarus.

A bold step

The admission of Belarusians under national symbols formally does not affect the possible admission in the same status of Russians. Nevertheless, there is a chance that it is this event that can become the key in the matter of the full restoration of our athletes in rights. It is worth noting that in the Judo Federation of Russia they do not hide joy for colleagues from Belarus, it is likely to expect that IJF will not stop at this.

Danil Lavrentiev, Inal Tasoev and Timur Arbuzov / Photo: © Judo Russian Federation

In addition to the International Boxing Association (IBA), at the tournaments of which Russians are in full status, previously only FIFA and UEFA have enough authority to allow Belarusians to compete under the flag without looking at the IOC. Now here IJF, without waiting for any political decisions and a fundamental change in the position of the IOC, dared to a previously unthinkable step.

Is it worth waiting for a quick restoration of the rights of Russians? Before the World Cup in June, most likely, no fundamental changes will occur, otherwise the decision would be made in both countries now. But after the tournament in Hungary, perhaps the question will move off the ground. If the full return of Belarus will do without scandals, provocations and boycotts, or IJF will find a decent answer, then why not turn the shameful page in relations with Russia?