If you’re following along in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina and notice that a Russian athlete is listed as “AIN” or isn’t getting the Russian flag next to their name or hear the Olympic anthem if they win gold, you may wonder what’s up with that.

We have an answer: It’s because Russian (Belarusians, too) athletes will compete at the Olympics as what’s known as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN). That started back in Paris for the 2024 Games. Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Olympic Committee punished Russia and Belarus for the war.

There’s your answer!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: What is AIN at Winter Olympics 2026? Why Russia isn’t under their flag