Their beautiful, evocative anthem is not to be heard at the athletes village or anywhere else during the XXIII Winter Games . And those Russian athletes had better not grab a flag from the fans either for a medal lap. “There will be no welcoming ceremony for the Olympic Athletes from Russia,” the venue press manager confirmed for the Star on Monday, using the official term for the team from the pariah nation. That declaration form contains a set of guidelines, including rules which prohibit them from taking a Russian flag, emblem or symbol if offered one by a fan. But if the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming anyway, then let’s forgo the fig leaf of censure, the public shaming, and call them what they are: Team Russia.

Source: thestar February 05, 2018 16:00 UTC