Russia’s new team name, flag unveiled for next two Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday unveiled Russia’s new team name and flag for the next two Olympic games.

According to guidelines released by the committee, Russia will be branded as “ROC,” which stands for Russia Olympic Committee, for the Tokyo games that were postponed to this year and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Public displays of the name “Russia Olympic Committee” will not be allowed, as Russia was barred from having its name on athletes’ uniforms or publicly displayed.

Russia will be allowed to use its Olympic committee emblem — red white and blue stripes above the Olympic rings. Russia’s flag will include the emblem on a white background, and not have any wording.

⚡На Олимпийских играх российские спортсмены выступят под флагом Олимпийского комитета России ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/2X4i2cCaSJ

— Olympic Russia (@Olympic_Russia) February 19, 2021

Russia still has to submit a proposed musical score that would be played during the games, which would be subject to the approval of the IOC.

The Associated Press reported that Russia is aiming to use the song “Katyusha,” which is identified with the fight against Nazi Germany in World War II.

“We considered it necessary to find and commit to, preferably in written form, a rational balance between completely implementing the sports arbitration ruling and observing the legal rights and interests of our athletes and federations,” ROC president Stanislav Pozdnyakov told the news outlet.

The changes come after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in December barred Russia from using its name at the Olympics for the next two years for allegedly concealing lab data to hide evidence of doping.

CAS’s restrictions will remain in place until Dec. 16, 2022.