IOC bans Russia and Belarus from broadcasting 2026 and 2028 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia and Belarus from the TV rights tender, says the organisation’s website.

Thuswise, no Russian or Belarusian TV channels will be allowed to legally broadcast the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, as well as the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The next Olympic event is the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The TV rights are likely to be already sold, but it is unclear what Russian TV channel will broadcast the event.

The International Olympic Committee advised earlier that athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus should be banned from all international sporting events. "Russian or Belarusian nationals, be it as individuals or teams, should be accepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams. No national symbols, colours, flags or anthems should be displayed," the statement added.

Russian athletes had to compete as "neutrals" under the Russian Olympic Committee banner in recent years because of the sanctions imposed on the country in response to the cover-up of a state-sponsored doping programme. It is unclear whether Russian nationals will partake in the 2024 Olympics.