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≡ OLYMPIC SUMMIT ≡
The Olympic Summit, a meeting of the permanent stakeholders in the Olympic Movement – the International Olympic Committee and heads of some of the International Federations and National Olympic Committees – has recently become a policy announcement forum under former IOC President Thomas Bach (GER).
In the first Summit under new President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), a major change in the approach to Russian and Belarusian athletes was announced:
“[T]he Summit supported the IOC EB’s recommendation that youth athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport should no longer be restricted in their access to international youth competitions, in both individual and team sports. The definition of youth competitions and the application of these recommendations depends for this purpose on the regulations of each International Federation (IF). The Summit participants committed to take these discussions back to their organisations for their consideration. It was recognised that implementation by the stakeholders will take time.
“In addition, the standard protocols of the IF or the International Sports Event Organiser regarding flags, anthems, uniforms and other elements should apply, provided that the national sports organisation concerned is in good standing.
“The above principles should apply to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and are recommended for adoption by all IFs and International Sports Event Organisers for their own youth events.”
So, Russia and Belarus will be welcomed to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar (SEN), despite the continuing war by Russia against Ukraine, which has gone on since February 2022. According to the IOC’s rules, “[t]he maximum age for participants will be 17 at the time of the Youth Olympic Games.”
However, the declaration also reiterated the sanctions against those who are publicly supporting the war and against senior-level athletes:
“At the same time, and based on the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, all athletes and their entourage must continue to support the Olympic Movement’s mission to promote unity and peace. Athletes and entourage members who act against this peace mission could be removed from competitions by the IF, their National Federation, their National Olympic Committee or the International Sports Event Organiser.
“In parallel, the IOC’s Recommended Conditions of Participation for International Federations and International Sports Event Organisers of 28 March 2023 should remain in place for senior competitions, and will be reviewed as necessary.
“Existing sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments should also remain in place. In particular, the restriction on accreditations or invitations to international sports events or meetings for government officials from Russia and Belarus should remain in place for both senior and youth events.
“IFs should continue to refrain from organising or supporting international sports events in Russia. This recommendation no longer applies to Belarus.
“With its considerations today, the Olympic Summit recognised that athletes, and in particular youth athletes, should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments – sport is their access to hope, and a way to show that all athletes can respect the same rules and each another.”
For Russia and Belarus, this is a victory, although it signals that sanctions against the National Olympic Committees in both countries may remain in place for a while.
The Summit announcement also dealt with “political neutrality issues” this way:
“[T]he importance of political neutrality for the Olympic Movement was acknowledged, as it allows athletes to access sport across the world without interference. At the same time, it was highlighted that the concept of political neutrality within the Olympic Movement and sport needs clearer definition, and its practical application should be further clarified. The IOC’s Working Group will take this up.
“The Summit also reaffirmed that athletes have a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organisations. As role models in society, athletes have at the same time a responsibility and an obligation to respect, uphold and promote the Olympic values, before, during and after competition.”
Although not covered during Wednesday’s news conference, a question to the IOC Press Office concerning sanctions on Indonesia for refusing entry visas to Israeli athletes for the gymnastics World Artistic Championships in October, or on Indonesian IOC member Erick Thohir (the government youth and sports minister) and Japanese member Morinari Watanabe – the World Gymnastics president – for their complicity, has not received a reply at the time this story was posted.
Observed: The IOC and its partners are walking a tightrope on Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Israel, Indonesia, World Gymnastics and federations like the International Judo Federation, which has welcomed Russia back without restrictions.
The Summit statement also does not deal explicitly with how the IOC – or the federations – will screen YOG participants from Russia and Belarus and youth participants in all sports.
The comment that the determination of how to implement the new approach will take time will prove vaporous; those federations that favor Russian and Belarusian inclusion will do so as soon as possible in 2026. Those who do not, will delay.
The political impacts of the Summit approach to “youth” competitions are impossible to predict, but it makes the 2026 Youth Olympic Games a possible inflection (boiling?) point. The clear loser, once again, is Ukraine.
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