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During the 2024 Paris Olympics, some athletes competed without displaying their country's flag. This was based on the war in Ukraine, which is ongoing in 2026.
These same conditions will also apply to the Milan 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Similarly, the acronym AIN will be used to refer to the group of athletes from areas affected by the war in Ukraine.
The Sporting News provides what it stands for and who exactly represents the three letters below.
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What does AIN stand for at the Olympics?
AIN is the country code used by the International Olympic Committee for Individual Neutral Athletes. It originates from the French term Athlètes Individuels Neutres, meaning Individual Neutral Athletes.
A country code is a three-letter abbreviation used by the IOC to identify each group of athletes in the Olympic Games.
These athletes are not allowed to use the neutral Olympic flag, but they will have their own flag. Prior to flag or anthem changes, Russian athletes competed under the "ROC" country code, which represents the "Russian Olympic Committee."
Which country's athletes are competing under AIN at the Olympics?
AIN athletes are eligible Olympic competitors with Russian or Belarusian passports who are barred from representing their respective nations. This decision reverses the 2022 Olympics, which was also used in the 2024 Olympics.
Both countries are completely prohibited once again because of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Strict eligibility criteria were established in accordance with IOC recommendations. To qualify as an Individual Neutral Athlete, several criteria must be met, including the rule that "Athletes who actively support the war will not be eligible to enter or compete."
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Who are the athletes competing under AIN?
As of Jan. 22, 2026
Russian Athletes
| Athlete | Sport (Men's/women's) |
| Savelii Korostelev | Cross-Country Skiing (M) |
| Daria Nepriaeva | Cross-Country Skiing (W) |
| Petr Gumennik | Figure Skating (M) |
| Adeliia Petrosian | Figure Skating (W) |
| Ivan Posashkov | Short Track (M) |
| Alena Krylova | Short Track (W) |
| Nikita Filippov | Ski Mountaineering (M) |
| Kseniia Korzhova | Speed Skating (W) |
| Anastasiia Semenova | Speed Skating (W) |
Belarusian Athletes
| Athlete | Sport (Men's/women's) |
| Hanna Karaliova | Cross-Country Skiing (W) |
| Viktoriya Safonova | Figure Skating (W) |
| Marina Zueva | Speed Skating (W) |
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