IOC calls for sport to remain politically neutral
Speaking in Brussels on Monday, IOC President Kirsty Coventry called on host nations and sports organizers to “guarantee access for all,” describing sport as both a “beacon of hope” and a “neutral ground.”
Her remarks come after the IOC’s recent decision to extend current sanctions, allowing only vetted Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate individually under a neutral flag at the upcoming Winter Games in Italy. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, athletes from both countries were initially banned from competing.
“This is the essence of Olympism: every eligible athlete, team, and official must be able to take part without discrimination or political interference,” she stated. The IOC published the text of her speech, calling it a “keynote” address, on its official website.
Coventry, who became the first African to lead the IOC in June, illustrated her point with a personal anecdote, recalling her two Olympic gold medals for Zimbabwe in backstroke swimming.
“If you had decided to sanction me when my country was going through turmoil, I would not have made it to the Olympic Games. I would not have won my Olympic medals. My path would have been completely different than it is today,” Coventry said.
Earlier this year, Coventry expressed opposition to banning athletes from the Olympics due to their countries’ involvement in armed conflicts and announced plans to start discussions on Russia’s potential return to international competition.
While Russian sports remain subject to sanctions, restrictions have eased in certain areas. Many summer sports federations now allow Russian athletes to compete under a neutral status at world championships, but most major winter sports bodies continue to enforce full bans. As a result, only a limited number of Russian athletes in a few winter disciplines have qualified so far for the 2026 Olympic Games.
Russian officials have criticized Western nations for politicizing international sport, according to reports.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
