Yorick Treille's Statement on Russian Athletes
Yorick Treille, head coach of the French national hockey team, has publicly stated his desire to see Russian players return to Olympic competition. This comes against the backdrop of the International Ice Hockey Federation's decision in March 2022 to suspend Russia from international tournaments. Consequently, France was required to replace the Russian team in the men's Olympic tournament scheduled for February 11–22 in Milan. The ongoing debate about Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation in international sport continues to be a highly contentious issue.
France last competed in Olympic hockey in 2002. Treille acknowledged that he has no control over the situation regarding Russian participation but conceded that their presence is a significant factor for the overall competitive level of the event.
“I am a huge hockey fan, like other fans around the world, and I am aware of our position and that this is a top-quality tournament. We all understand that we love to see Russia, one of the biggest hockey nations in the world.” - Yorick Treille
Ukraine's Delegation for the 2026 Olympics
In a separate development, the official delegation roster for the Ukrainian national team at the XXV Winter Olympic Games in 2026 has been confirmed. The delegation will consist of 103 individuals, including:
- 46 athletes
- 42 coaches, doctors, masseurs, and other technical staff
- 15 members of the national team's headquarters
Team Ukraine will be represented in 11 sports, specifically:
- biathlon
- alpine skiing
- nordic combined
- cross-country skiing
- luge
- skeleton
- snowboarding
- ski jumping
- freestyle skiing
- figure skating
- short track speed skating
Treille's comments underscore the perceived importance of Russian hockey talent to international tournaments. However, their continued absence from the 2026 Olympics, due to the geopolitical situation, is expected to impact the event's overall competitive depth. Meanwhile, Ukraine's substantial and diverse delegation highlights the nation's commitment to maintaining a strong presence on the global sporting stage despite significant ongoing challenges.