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.
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