The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) announced cash payments for 116 athletes who were prevented from competing at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had banned Russian and Belarusian athletes following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Some Russian athletes were permitted to compete as neutrals, without national symbols.
Mikhail Degtyarev, Russian Sports Minister and ROC chairman, confirmed the payouts during a meeting with athletes who participated in the Winter Olympics. He stated that the decision was made to financially support athletes affected by "treacherous political decisions."
The Ministry of Sport and ROC are actively working to facilitate the return of Russian national teams to international competitions under their own flag and anthem, pursuing negotiations and legal avenues to defend athletes' rights.
Nikita Filippov was the sole Russian athlete to secure a medal, earning a silver in ski mountaineering.