The International Olympic Committee has reaffirmed its position on sport without political interference following the 14th Olympic Summit, which was held on Thursday in Lausanne. The meeting addressed a wide range of issues facing the Olympic Movement, including preparations for upcoming Olympic events, anti doping measures and the role of political neutrality in international sport.
The summit was the first chaired by newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry and brought together senior representatives from across the Olympic Movement. Discussions included the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, alongside broader governance and policy matters.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was renewed discussion on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international sport. The summit supported a recommendation that international federations allow youth athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports to access international youth competitions, in both individual and team sports, subject to the regulations of each federation. The IOC stated that athletes should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments and that access to sport should be protected from political pressure.
The IOC noted that the practical application of political neutrality within the Olympic Movement requires further clarification. A dedicated working group has been tasked with reviewing the Olympic Charter and examining how the principle of political neutrality should be applied in practice. The IOC indicated that further guidance is expected following this review.
While the Russian Olympic Committee remains suspended and restrictions on Russia hosting international sporting events remain in place, the summit acknowledged that implementation of the new recommendations would take time and would depend on decisions taken by individual international federations. The IOC also confirmed that restrictions on accreditations or invitations for government officials from Russia and Belarus to international sporting events or meetings will remain in force for both senior and youth events.
The principles discussed at the summit were recommended for application at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and encouraged for adoption by international sports governing bodies and event organisers for youth competitions. The IOC reiterated that athletes have a fundamental right to participate in sport worldwide, free from political interference, while also emphasising that athletes are expected to respect and uphold Olympic values before, during and after competition.
The IOC described the Olympic Summit as part of its ongoing dialogue on issues of strategic importance to the future of the Olympic Movement, noting that the outcomes of these discussions help shape policy direction ahead of major international sporting events.
