Degtyarev was outraged by the admission of Russians to the Olympic festival without a flag

The admission of Russian athletes to the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in Brasov, Romania, in 2027, only in a neutral status is discriminatory. About this in his Telegram channel wrote the Minister of sports and the head of the Olympic Committee of Russia Mikhail Degtyarev.

The decision on the admission of Russians was made by the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees (EOC). The tournament will be held in Brasov from 14 to 21 February 2027.

“Despite the fact that the admission was obtained for the first time in many years, its format is regarded as a gross violation of the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and discrimination,” Degtyarev wrote.

In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that Russian athletes be admitted to international tournaments without restrictions, including with national symbols. “Nevertheless, Europe is once again demonstrating a selective approach to its own principles of equality. Russian athletes are required to compete under the EOC flag, and they will be able to use the emblem of the Russian Olympic Committee on their uniform. This is discrimination and a departure from Olympic values, in fact, a demarche of the IOC decision, he added.

According to Degtyarev, lawyers are preparing lawsuits in the courts.

The European Youth Olympic Festival is a regional international integrated sports competition among young athletes held every two years by the EOC.