The United Nations recognises the autonomy of sport, "a historic step" says the IOC

The General Assembly of the United Nations "recognises that major international sports events should be organised in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding, friendship, tolerance and inadmissibility of discrimination of any kind and that the unifying and conciliative nature of such events should be respected," said the international body in a resolution dated 16/10/2014, and adopted by consensus at the 69^th ordinary session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York (USA).

"We highly welcome this resolution as a historic milestone in the relations between sport and politics," said IOC (International Olympic Commitee) president Thomas Bach. "We must form partnerships with political organisations based on this recognition of the autonomy of sport. The excellent relations between the UN and the IOC can in this respect serve as an example for relations on the national level between National Olympic Committees and national governments. This relationship with governments requires that sport always remains politically neutral."