Russia permits Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic titles for sports schools in occupied Ukraine under special rules

The Russian government has introduced special rules allowing sports schools in the occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson to use the terms "Olympic," "Paralympic," and "Deaflympic" in their names. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the decree on October 15. To use these names, the schools must meet specific criteria: at least 60% of their athletes must train in Olympic sports or recognized disciplines by the International Olympic Committee, practiced in at least 75 Russian regions.

Additionally, 15% of the students must be training at advanced or elite levels. The schools must also have trained an athlete who competed in Russian national championships or nationwide "Spartakiads." The coaches in these relevant disciplines must be employed by the schools as their primary place of work. Sports schools using these names before the law's extension can apply to retain their names without meeting the requirements, provided they submit information about the organization and an extract from Russia's Unified State Register of Legal Entities.

Applications will be reviewed by Russia's regional sports authorities, who must seek the opinion of the Russian Olympic Committee, Russian Paralympic Committee, or Russian Deaflympic Committee. Ukraine has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over lifting restrictions on the Russian Olympic Committee.