A Croatian ban on flags and anthems forces Russian and Belarusian teams to enter the 2026 European Gymnastics Championships under neutral status.
At the 2026 European Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Zagreb, Russian and Belarusian athletes and delegations will be able to participate without displaying national symbols.
This decision came after the Croatian government banned flags, national anthems, and other forms of national identification during competitions.
The European Gymnastics Union said it respects the decision made by the Croatian authorities.
The Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport confirmed the terms for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and delegations in the European Championship without any national identifiers.
In particular, in the sports context it was noted that World Aquatics will no longer apply guidance regarding the participation of adult athletes with Russian or Belarusian citizenship in aquatic disciplines.
Context and Positions of the Parties
This decision underscores the united stance of the Croatian authorities and the European gymnastics community on athletes’ participation without national symbols during the championship.
The official competition format in Zagreb should focus on sporting achievements and maintain neutrality during performances by athletes from different nations.