Key facts
- Nine European Union member states called for the EU to stop funding sports bodies that have re-admitted Russian and Belarusian athletes.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended its decision to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
- The ROC's suspension, in place since October 2023, was lifted after the organization removed regional sports bodies from occupied Ukrainian territories from its membership.
- The IOC stated its decision was provisional and did not signal a broader change in its position towards Russia.
- The IOC will continue to refrain from holding events in Russia and inviting Russian government officials.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its recent decision to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), a move that has drawn criticism from nine European Union member states. These countries have urged the European Union to cease funding sports organizations, including the IOC, World Aquatics, and the International Fencing Federation, that have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition.
The nine nations — Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Sweden — expressed their concerns in a letter to European sports commissioner Glenn Micallef. They argued that readmitting Russian and Belarusian athletes overlooks the hardships faced by Ukrainian athletes, many of whom have been displaced or lost training access due to the ongoing conflict.
An IOC spokesperson clarified that the ROC's suspension, which began in October 2023, was lifted earlier this month. This action followed the removal of regional sports bodies from occupied Ukrainian territories from the ROC's membership, which was the original reason for the sanction. The spokesperson emphasized that the decision is provisional and does not represent a fundamental shift in the IOC's stance on Russia. The committee aims to uphold its mission of maintaining a values-based, global sporting platform.
Furthermore, the IOC confirmed it will continue to avoid hosting events in Russia and will not invite Russian government officials to its events. Decisions regarding the use of Russian flags, colors, or the national anthem at future Olympics remain pending. The IOC also noted that competitions outside the Olympic Games fall under the purview of the respective international federations. The Olympic body has also reinforced the Olympic Charter, requiring National Olympic Committees to select athletes who not only demonstrate sporting merit but also promote peace through sport.