The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has lifted its restrictions on Belarusian athletes, allowing them to compete in future Olympic Games, including the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, with teams and without national identifiers. This decision, announced on Thursday, marks a significant shift from previous policies that saw Belarusian and Russian athletes competing as "Individual Neutral Athletes" due to Belarus's role as an ally and staging ground for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While Belarusian athletes will now be permitted to compete, including in the opening ceremony and medal table, Russian athletes continue to face restrictions, only allowed to participate as neutrals if they have not supported the conflict. The IOC stated that the situation for Russia is different, citing the Russian Olympic Committee's suspension and ongoing concerns about the Russian anti-doping system.