Famous Russian skier Yulia Chepalova could not contain her emotions after Russian athletes were excluded from the Olympics due to the inability to compete under official flags. She called for organizing their own games and supporting the limited participants.
There were no positive expectations before the FIS council meeting. It was 90% clear that Russian skiers will not be allowed back now. Unfortunately, anti-Russian sentiments in the world do not change. And why should we wait long for someone else's crumbs? It is necessary to hold our own Games, alternative to the Olympics, and give them a status higher than the Olympic one within the country. We need to support our athletes who almost in all winter sports do not have the opportunity to go to the Olympics. And we will shove it in the face of those who do not want to see us on the world stage! No need to bow to foreigners, to international federations; we need to create our own. Let them bow to us. We are Russia, a state that will never kneel down.
The International Ski Federation did not support the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which caused outrage among athletes and great disappointment among sports fans.