Russian Olympic Committee Celebrates 115th Anniversary

Russian officials highlight the country's storied Olympic history and look ahead to future games.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:19am

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The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) is celebrating its 115th anniversary, with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Assistant to the President Alexei Dyumin, and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev congratulating the organization and discussing Russia's Olympic legacy and future prospects. Russia has a long history in the Olympic movement, dating back to the 1900 Paris Games, and has won over 2,000 Olympic medals. Despite recent restrictions, Russian athletes continue to compete and succeed on the international stage.

Why it matters

The ROC's anniversary highlights Russia's enduring status as a major Olympic power, even as the country has faced bans and restrictions in recent years due to doping scandals. The comments from top officials signal Russia's determination to maintain its Olympic prominence and restore its full rights within the international sports community.

The details

Russia has been a central part of the Olympic movement since the late 19th century, with a Russian general becoming one of the first 13 members of the International Olympic Committee in 1894. Russian athletes made their debut at the 1900 Paris Games, and the country has since won over 2,000 Olympic medals, including the first gold medal won by figure skater Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin in 1908. While Russian athletes competed under the Russian flag from 1994 onward, recent doping scandals led to restrictions on their participation, including competing as 'neutral' athletes. However, Russian officials say the country remains a 'great sports power' and are working to fully restore the rights of Russian athletes and the ROC.

  • The Russian Olympic Committee was established on March 29, 1911.
  • The USSR national team participated in 9 summer and 9 winter Olympic Games.
  • Since 1994, Russian athletes have competed at the Olympics under the Russian flag.
  • At the 2026 Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo Games, 13 Russian athletes competed in 6 sports, with Russia finishing third in the team competition.
  • The 2026 Spartakiad of the Peoples of Russia will serve as the selection process for Russia's 2028 Olympic team.

The players

Dmitry Chernyshenko

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation.

Alexei Dyumin

Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports in Russia.

Mikhail Degtyarev

Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Alexey Butovsky

A citizen of the Russian Empire who became one of the 13 first members of the International Olympic Committee in 1894.

Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin

The first Russian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, in figure skating at the 1908 Games.

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What they’re saying

“Congratulations to the Russian Olympic Committee on the 115th anniversary of fruitful work and glorious victories! Today, the ROC continues its traditions: it protects the rights of our athletes, creates conditions for their training, and does everything possible to develop Russian sports.”

— Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia

“Today, despite all unfair restrictions, Russia remains and will remain a great sports power. I hope that the principles laid down by the founders of the Olympic movement will prevail again in the international sports community: sport should be outside politics, serve the cause of peace and unite nations.”

— Alexey Dyumin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports

“The results in Italy have shown that Russian sport remains a part of the global Olympic movement. The restoration of our athletes' rights will continue, we will see even more victories, and the Russian national anthem will be played more often at international competitions.”

— Mikhail Degtyarev, Minister of Sports, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee

What’s next

The 2026 Spartakiad of the Peoples of Russia will serve as the selection process for Russia's team to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

Despite recent challenges, Russia remains a dominant force in the Olympic movement, with a storied history and a determination to maintain its status as a global sports powerhouse. The ROC's 115th anniversary celebration underscores the country's enduring commitment to Olympic success and its efforts to fully restore its rights within the international sports community.