IOC allows Russian athlete to compete at Winter Olympics

Ski mountaineer Nikita Filippov will be allowed to compete at next year’s Winter games in Italy. Russia and Belarus were banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. But Filippov will be allowed to compete in Northern Italy after the IOC issued him with an official invitation. Russians and Belarusians cleared to compete at the Games will participate as independent athletes, without a national flag or anthem.