Cortina: Although some players will compete under the Athlete Neutral (AIN) banner, most of Russia’s elite athletes, including stars such as Nikita Kucherov and Alex Ovechkin, will not compete, making the tournament less competitive overall.
Fans and former players say the absence will put an asterisk on the Olympic title race, as the stadium is missing one of the world’s strongest hockey nations. Organisers and the IOC defend this stance as principled, aimed at avoiding political conflict.
Read More
- Round of 16 of the US Open Tennis Championship brings fierce action
- Infantino silent as pressure mounts over FIFA future
- Rumesh Tharanga makes history, becomes first Sri Lankan to win Diamond League javelin title
- Oman Grand Prix draws athletes from 50+ nations
- Oman go down fighting as Tahir ton powers Kuwait to thrilling win
