Dec 23 (Reuters) - Russian ‌ski mountaineer Nikita Filippov has ‌been issued an official invitation to ‌the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said.

Russia and Belarus were banned by ‍the IOC following the former's ‍invasion of Ukraine ‌in February 2022, and the IOC ruled ‍in September ​that Russians and Belarusians cleared to compete at the Games ⁠would compete as neutral independent athletes, ‌without a national flag or anthem.