European Aquatics assured the participation of Russians at the Olympics-2028

President of the European Aquatics Federation Antonio Silva said at a press conference that Russian athletes will be admitted to the Olympic Games in 2028.

“For my part, I can assure you that the Russians will be allowed to the Olympic Games in all types of programs,” Silva said.

European Aquatics will not host tournaments in countries that refuse to issue visas to Russian athletes.

In almost all competitions, except for the European Championship 2028, there is an agreement on issuing visas to Russian athletes. We are not going to bring competitions in countries that refuse to issue a visa in Russia, he said.

The problem with visas has become for Russian athletes no less serious barrier than the admissions to competitions. Even with the right to compete, athletes face refusals and delays when applying for Schengen visas.

In 2025, FVSR President Dmitry Mazepin said that Russians would not be able to take part in the European Short Water Swimming Championships in Poland due to visa denial.

The most recent and resonant case occurred in August 2026 before the European Gymnastics Championship in Zagreb: Croatia denied visas to nine of the 65 members of the delegation, including Olympic champions Angelina Melnikova and Victoria Listunova. The four were later revoked.

On August 19, it also became known that Russian athletes could not go to the World Rowing Championships in the Netherlands on time because they did not receive visas.

The Secretary General of the Russian Aquatics Federation (FVSR) Radmir Gabdullin said in September that World Aquatics obliged countries hosting international competitions to guarantee visas to Russian athletes.