Neutrality Policy and Process
The World Sailing Policy for participation of Individual Neutral Athletes, Support Persons and Race Officials with a Russian or Belarusian Passport (the Neutrality Policy) is now available.
The Neutrality Policy incorporates the strict neutrality conditions outlined by the International Olympic Committee and in particular the individual must have:
- No link with the Russian or Belarusian military or with any other national security agency since the 24 February 2022 when the war in Ukraine commenced
- No communications promoting Russia or Belarus from 24 February 2022 onwards
- No active support for the war in Ukraine since 24 February 2022.
World Sailing continues to recommend that athletes, support persons and race officials with a Russian or Belarusian passport who are not sailing as neutrals in accordance with the Neutrality Policy should not be permitted to compete in events or classes.
Any sailor, support person or race official who wishes to participate as a neutral must satisfy the criteria set out in the Neutrality Policy. The first step is the application form must be completed and sent to World Sailing legal department at legal@sailing.org.
In accordance with the Neutrality Policy upon receipt of the application form, World Sailing legal department will carry out verifications to ensure compliance with the requirements set out in the Policy. After the verification process World Sailing legal department will present the applications to the World Sailing Board for approval.
Any queries regarding the process please direct to legal@sailing.org