Why is Russia’s flag not in the Olympics?

Watching the Winter Olympics will knock your socks off! The Winter Olympics happens every four years, in a new place each time. It is a series of winter activities and sports competitions involving almost every country in the world. This time it is held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. It started Friday, February 9, 2018 and runs until this Sunday, February 29, 2018. There is one major difference between this Winter Olympics and past years: one country cannot compete.

Russia, a country found in Eastern Europe and a small part of Northern Asia, has been banned from this Winter Olympics. Russia cannot compete in the Winter Olympics as its own country because many Russian athletes used a drug/steroid to boost their muscle strength. That is considered illegal for the Olympics and is highly dangerous. Now Russian athletes have to compete under a neutral Olympic flag, and their anthem will not be played at the 2018 Winter Olympics ceremonies.