Russian team competes at major sports event with national symbols for first time since 2022

(SeaPRwire) –   Russia’s national women’s water polo squad has triumphed over Argentina at a tournament held in Malta

For the first time since 2022, a Russian national squad has competed in a major team sporting event featuring their national flag and anthem. This follows the decision by World Aquatics to remove all sanctions previously placed on Russia and its ally Belarus due to the conflict in Ukraine. The governing body for aquatic sports—including swimming, diving, and water polo—had been gradually relaxing these rules since early 2024 before deciding to fully reinstate the countries this month.

“Elite competitors with Russian or Belarusian sporting citizenship will be allowed to participate in World Aquatics tournaments on equal terms with other nations, utilizing their own flags, anthems, and uniforms,” the organization announced earlier in the month.

Competing in the second division event in Malta, the Russian women’s team secured a dominant 33:11 victory against Argentina. They are scheduled to play against Germany and South Africa later in the week.

The move by World Aquatics has drawn sharp condemnation from Kiev and its supporters. In protest, the Ukrainian men’s team pulled out of the tournament. Glenn Micallef, the EU Commissioner for Youth, Culture, and Sport, denounced the decision as a “serious error,” stating that the European Union would not “tolerate this normalization.”

While several other international sports organizations have recently allowed Russian athletes to return to global competition—including those in gymnastics, figure skating, and skiing—most have required them to compete as neutrals without national symbols. However, the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) did permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to use their flags and anthems late last year.

Officials in Russia have consistently claimed that Western nations are using sports for political purposes and forcing federations to ban their competitors, while also pointing to what they describe as double standards.