Russia/Friendship Games: IOC "reaffirms its strong position against the politicisation of sport"

"The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirms its strong position against the politicisation of sport. The Russian government intends to organise purely politically motivated sports events in Russia," announced the IOC on 19/03/2024.

The world body, whose executive board is meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne (SUI) on 19 and 20/03/2024, refers to the "International Friendship Association" (IFA), a group "created and funded" by the Russian government with the aim of organising "the Summer Friendship Games, planned to be held in Moscow and Ekaterinburg, Russia, in September 2024, and the Winter Friendship Games in Sochi, Russia, in 2026," according to the IOC.

As a reminder, Russian and Belarusian athletes can only compete in IOC competitions under a neutral banner and on condition that they have not supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The IOC suspended the Russian and Belarusian Olympic Committees on 12/10/2023. As part of its sport power strategy, Russia has already organised its own "Future Games" in Kazan (RUS, from 21/02 to 03/03/2024) and will host the BRICS…