What is ROC?
ROC stands for Russian Olympic Committee. Russian athletes are competing under the ROC banner as neutral athletes, not on behalf of Russia. There are 204 Russian athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics under the ROC. Critics have said the rule barely makes a difference in the grand scheme of the Olympic Games, especially since the ROC athletes still wear Russia’s national colors.
Why is Russia banned from the Olympics?
The World Doping Agency (WDA) banned Russia from all international athletic competitions in 2019 for alleged state-sanctioned, widespread doping among its athletes. The WDA also accused the Russian Doping Agency of being uncooperative with investigations into the matter. Russian athletes may still compete, but they cannot compete on behalf of Russia. In the Olympics, Russian athletes compete under the ROC and the Russian flag isn’t displayed, nor is their national anthem played. Russian athletes competing in the Olympics must pass doping tests like other competitors to be eligible to compete under the ROC. The offenses reportedly date back as far as the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. Professor and Russian propaganda expert Sarah Oates told Yahoo! Sports that the ROC ruling only deepens the rift between Russia and the United States, and noted that Russia’s state news organizations have mocked the move. “Russia is expert at using propaganda. This fits the Russians’ constant ‘Us against the West’ narrative, claiming that the athletes were unfairly treated as further evidence of how Russia is treated badly in the world in general," she said. “Russia is their team and you tend to support your team even in the face of scandals. This could work to the Kremlin’s advantage to inspire anger at the international community and bolster Russian nationalism. That being said, Russians are a pretty sophisticated audience and are likely to be somewhat cynical about their government.”
When does the Olympics Russia ban end?
Russia was originally banned from international sports competitions for four years, but in December 2020, the ban was cut to two years on appeal. The Olympics ban on Russia will end in late 2022, meaning they will banned from the 2020 Summer Games as well as the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Russia will also be ineligible to compete in 2022’s FIFA World Cup.
What other countries have neutral athletes in the 2020 Olympics?
Russia isn’t alone in sending neutral athletes to the Olympics Games. Numerous countries have sent refugee athletes to compete under the banners of other nations, known as the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. Athletes originally from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, South Sudan and Syria competed under other host national Olympic Committees, including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Kenya, Netherlands, Portugal, ROC, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom. At the 2020 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, IOC President Thomas Bach told the IOC Refugee Team, “Dear refugee athletes: With your talent and human spirit, you are demonstrating what enrichment refugees are for society. You had to flee from your homes because of violence, hunger or just because you were different. Today, we welcome you with open arms and offer you a peaceful home. Welcome to our Olympic community.” Berets and Sweatsuits and Skirts! See Over a Century of Throwback Olympic Uniforms
