The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected a recent request by the Danish Parliament to grant independent Olympic team status to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
The Olympic governing body responded to a proposal outlined in a letter signed by Danish Parliament Speaker Soren Gade on 18 June and made public on Tuesday. The letter called for both semi-autonomous territories to be recognised as separate Olympic teams, enabling their athletes to compete under their own flags.
In its response, the IOC cited the Olympic Charter, which since 1996 has required that a National Olympic Committee represent “an independent state recognised by the international community”. As Greenland and the Faroe Islands do not meet that criterion, the Lausanne-based organisation said they cannot be recognised independently. “This position has been explained and communicated very clearly to the parties concerned on numerous occasions over the past years,” the IOC stated.
Calls for independent Olympic representation date back to 1983, before the current Olympic Charter was introduced, and were raised again by Denmark two decades ago. The issue has resurfaced following the formation of a new Danish coalition government led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who pledged during her election campaign to strengthen support for Greenland amid renewed expressions of interest from US President Donald Trump in acquiring the island. The timing is notable, with the next Summer Olympics scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028, where Trump is expected to formally open the Games.
The Danish presidium argued that there is now “a clear and current political commitment by Denmark to support enhanced and fairer international participation for both the Faroe Islands and Greenland”. It also pointed out that both territories already belong to several international sports federations, including the International Handball Federation, while the Faroe Islands are also members of the Union of European Football Associations and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Despite those arguments, the IOC has maintained its long-standing position. As a result, athletes from Greenland and the Faroe Islands who qualify for the Olympic Games will continue to compete under the Danish flag. This was the case at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where siblings Ukaleq and Sondre Slettemark represented Denmark in the biathlon. Ukaleq, who was born in Nuuk, Greenland, had also competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, while Sondre made his Olympic debut in Italy.
The IOC currently recognises 206 National Olympic Committees. Over the past three decades, it has largely limited new recognition to territories acknowledged by the international community as independent states, with Kosovo and South Sudan being the only exceptions admitted under the current criteria.
