Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry has called for governments to ensure that all athletes can compete without political interference, framing sport as a politically neutral space. Her remarks come as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to allow only vetted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the upcoming 2026 Winter Games under a neutral flag, following longstanding sanctions imposed over their countries’ involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Coventry emphasized that the essence of Olympism is to guarantee equal access for every eligible athlete, regardless of their country’s political situation.
Speaking in Brussels, Coventry argued that sport should remain a neutral ground, and that all athletes should be able to compete without discrimination or political bias. The IOC, she stated, has a responsibility to ensure that every athlete, team, and official can take part in the Games without facing political barriers. Her remarks come just days after the IOC announced its decision to extend existing sanctions, allowing only vetted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag. This decision has drawn criticism from Russian officials, who have accused Western nations of politicizing international sports.
Coventry’s call for political neutrality in the Olympic Games is particularly significant given her own background. As the first African to head the IOC, she used her personal story to illustrate the broader implications of her message. She recalled that if she had been subject to sanctions during the time her home country was undergoing political turmoil, her Olympic career would have been severely impacted. Her two gold medals for Zimbabwe in backstroke swimming were earned during a period when the country was grappling with political challenges, and she emphasized that the ability to compete without political interference was crucial to her success.
Earlier this year, Coventry had already stated that she does not support banning athletes from the Olympics due to their countries’ involvement in armed conflicts. She announced plans to initiate discussions on Russia’s potential return to competition, although the process remains complex. Russian sports have been under various sanctions, with many summer sports federations now allowing neutral Russian athletes to compete at world championships. However, most major winter sports bodies still enforce a full ban, limiting the number of Russian athletes who can qualify for the 2026 Winter Games. This has resulted in only a handful of Russian athletes in select winter disciplines being eligible to compete.