War in Ukraine: 37 countries support the firm approach taken by international sports organisations

"We, as a collective of like-minded nations, affirm our support for international sport organisations," announced 37 countries (listed below) in a "Statement on Russia's war on Ukraine & international sport" signed on 08/03/2022.

The declaration, initialled on behalf of the UK by Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, welcomes in particular the decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions and not to accept international sporting events in Russia or Belarus (see full statement below).

The 37 signatory countries include:
• 26 of the 27 European Union countries (all except Bulgaria).
• 5 other European countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the UK).
• 6 non-European countries (USA and Canada, Japan and South Korea, Australia and New Zealand).

"Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations form the foundation of international sport"

"Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, enabled by the Belarusian government, is abhorrent and a flagrant breach of…