Key facts
- Lithuania lost hosting rights for the 2027 pentathlon tournament due to visa refusals for Russian and Belarusian athletes.
- Moscow was awarded the 2030 Weightlifting Championship.
- EU officials are preparing proposals to counter Russia's influence in international sports.
The European Union is grappling with how to prevent Russia from using international sporting events to improve its global image, as Moscow continues to secure high-profile competitions. Despite EU calls for isolation, Russia has recently been awarded the 2030 Weightlifting Championship in Moscow, and Lithuania was removed as host for the 2027 pentathlon tournament after denying visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes. These decisions have drawn strong criticism from Lithuania and Ukraine, with Kyiv vowing to boycott the weightlifting event.