The press service of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told Match TV that Russian athletes will not take part in the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games; the issue of participation in the closing ceremony has not yet been resolved.

The 2026 Olympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to 22. Russian athletes will compete in a neutral status.

– Individual neutral athletes will not take part in the athletes’ parade, but will be given the opportunity to attend the event both in Milan and in the mountain clusters.

As for the closing ceremony, a decision on this issue has not yet been made, the IOC press service told Match TV.

Russian Natalia Shevchenko won the pursuit race at the fourth stage of the Alfa-Bank Commonwealth Biathlon Cup, which takes place in Raubichi (Belarus).

Shevchenko covered the 10 km distance in 38 minutes 40.9 seconds, making three mistakes at four shooting ranges.

The second place was taken by the representative of Belarus Anna Sola (lag – 15.3 seconds; 3 misses), Anastasia Khalili finished third (+19.9; 5 misses).

The men’s pursuit will take place later on Saturday. Watch the live broadcast of the competition from 15:00 (Moscow time) on the TV channels “Match TV” and “Match! Arena”, as well as the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

On Saturday, January 24, at the fourth stage of the Alfa-Bank Commonwealth Biathlon Cup in the Belarusian Raubichi, the men’s pursuit race will be held.

The competition will begin at 15:00 Moscow time. The live broadcast will be available from 15:00 on the Match TV and Match! Arena”, as well as the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

44 athletes entered the race, including Olympic bronze medalists Eduard Latypov, Karim Khalili and Alexander Loginov, as well as Daniil Serokhvostov, Alexander Povarnitsyn, Kirill Bazhin.

Belarus will be represented by the silver medalist of the 2022 Olympics Anton Smolsky, as well as Stepan Danilov, Maxim Vorobey and others.

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