The IOC sent a strong message against the politicization of sport and asked to reject any participation

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sent a strong message regarding the politicization of sport and asked the Olympic Movement not to participate in the alternative Games that Russia proposes to organize after the suspension that will prevent it from being part of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.

In a statement, “the IOC states that, contrary to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter and the resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the Russian government intends to organize purely politically motivated sporting events in Russia”.

“The Russian government created and funded the International Friendship Association (IFA), in order to host the summer and winter Friendship Games. Apparently, the first edition of the Summer Friendship Games is scheduled to be held in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, Russia, in September 2024, and the Winter Friendship Games in Sochi, Russia, in 2026,” says the body led by Thomas Bach and highlights: “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirms its firm position against the politicization of sport”.

The International Olympic Committee assures that these alternative Games that Russia seeks to organize violate the Olympic Charter, which states that “the mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism around the world and lead the Olympic Movement”. In addition, he points out that the role of the IOC “is to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sports and athletes.”

“This is a cynical attempt by the Russian Federation to politicize sport,” the organization states and explains that “the IOC Athletes’ Commission, which represents all Olympic athletes in the world, is clearly opposed to using athletes for political propaganda. The Commission even sees the risk of governments forcing athletes to participate in such a totally politicized sporting event, exploiting them, as well as part of a political propaganda campaign.”

“The Olympic Movement strongly condemns any initiative to fully politicize sport, in particular the establishment of fully politicized sporting events by the Russian government... The IOC strongly urges all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement and all governments to reject any participation”, closes the publication entitled ‘Declaration against the politicization of sport’, in which it also expressed concern about the controls of these alternative Games: “The Russian government also shows a total lack of respect for global anti-doping rules and the integrity of competitions”.

Due to the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian athletes - including those from Belarus - will only be able to participate in Paris 2024 individually and as a neutral, in addition to meeting other demanding requirements such as not having been in favor of the war or being part of the Russian army.