Russia Inches Its Way Back Onto the World Sports Stage

Russia is about to step back onto one of sports' biggest stages, and not everyone is cheering. More than 10 years after a massive state-backed doping scandal pushed it to the sidelines, and amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia will send six skiers to next month's Paralympic Games in Italy, alongside four from ally Belarus, reports the New York Times. The Russian athletes will march and compete under their own flag and anthem for the first time since 2014.

The move by the International Paralympic Committee, enabled in part by a successful Russian legal challenge at sport's top court, has drawn sharp rebukes from Ukraine and European officials. The European Commission's sports rep says he'll boycott the opening ceremony, Britain's sports minister calls the decision a "terrible message," and Ukraine's sports minister says his delegation will stay away from official events.

"We thank every government official of the free world ... who also [boycotts] the official events of the Paralympics. Let's keep up the fight!" Matvii Bidny wrote Wednesday on social media, per the Kyiv Independent. The decision may also foreshadow a bigger shift. Sports leaders, including the IOC and FIFA presidents, are openly talking about sports as "neutral ground," potentially clearing the way for a broader Russian return, including a possible appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.