Athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) made quite a statement during the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Russian athletes were seen sporting Russia's flag stitched onto the left sleeve of their jackets upon attending the Parade of Nations -- even though the Russian flag is not allowed to be shown at these Olympics.
This marks the third consecutive Olympic Games in which Russia's athletes must participate as the Russian Olympic Committee. In addition to being banned from wearing the Russian flag, the country also can't play its national anthem at any point during an Olympic Games.
Athletes from the country have been forced to compete under the moniker of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) ever since Russia received a four-year Olympic ban back in 2017 for engaging in a state-sponsored doping program that supplied its athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.
Even with Russia's ban, Russian president Vladimir Putin was in attendance for the Opening Ceremony at Beijing's National Stadium. Putin showed his support by applauding when the Russian Olympic Committee athletes made their entrance.
The Russian flag appearing on the Russian Olympic Committee's jackets would definitely be a violation of the ban that they received from the IOC. It'll be worth keeping an eye on any penalties related to the Russian Olympic Committee's flag display in the near future.