{"id":196740,"date":"2026-07-22T14:01:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T11:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/196740\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T14:01:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T11:01:25","slug":"international-chess-federation-clears-belarusian-players-to-compete","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/196740\/","title":{"rendered":"International Chess Federation clears Belarusian players to compete"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 22, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has lifted all restrictions on Belarusian players and the Belarus Chess Federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement on its website, the FIDE Council cites the International Olympic Committee (IOC)\u2019s recent recommendation that there should no longer be any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions governed by international federations and international sports event organizers. \u201cThe IOC reaffirmed its position that athletes\u2019 participation in international sport should not be limited by the actions of their governments,\u201d the statement says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian players and official teams will now be allowed to participate in FIDE competitions under Belarus\u2019 state flag. The upcoming major FIDE world events are the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities 2026 and the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026, both scheduled to take place in September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, the International Chess Federation stopped sponsoring games in Russia and Belarus and mandated neutral status for their players competing in international tournaments. in September 2024, FIDE extended the ban. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 7, 2026, the International Olympic Committee withdrew its earlier recommendations that sports bodies restrict participation of Belarusian athletes and teams. Ukraine expressed protest and disappointment with the Committee\u2019s decision, stressing that it contradicted the fundamental principles of justice, responsibility and Olympic values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine with the help of authorities in Minsk in February 2022, the IOC urged sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from all competitions. Later, it recommended that some of them could be allowed as neutral athletes under certain conditions, such as not supporting the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All restrictions on Belarusian athletes have been lifted by the World Dance Sport Federation, the World Confederation of Billiards Sports, the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation, the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, World Gymnastics, European Gymnastics, the International Volleyball Federation, World Boxing, and the International Handball Federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the International Tennis Federation, World Athletics and the International Basketball Federation, among others, have maintained restrictions imposed in connection with Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine and the Belarusian regime\u2019s role in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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