The United Nations General Assembly has called on all nations to uphold the Olympic Truce during the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, following repeated violations by Russia. The resolution, adopted unanimously at the 193-member world body, underscores the importance of the Olympic spirit in fostering peace and international cooperation. The move comes four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which undermined the truce during the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
The resolution, introduced by Italy’s Giovanni Malagò, president of the organizing committee for the Winter Olympics, emphasizes the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce, aimed at ensuring safe passage for athletes and promoting reconciliation. It also addresses the need to prevent politically motivated visa denials, as seen in recent controversies involving the Indonesian government and the Israeli national gymnastics team. The 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 4-26, face continued challenges from geopolitical tensions, including Russia’s historical violations and its ongoing exclusion from major sporting events.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the global context of conflict and division, calling on nations to keep sport and politics apart. She urged countries to ensure athletes are not denied visas for politically motivated reasons, emphasizing that their worth should be judged by their sporting merits. Coventry’s remarks followed the IOC’s recommendation against hosting international competitions in Indonesia due to the denial of visas to the Israeli gymnastics team, which had sparked global controversy.
Russia’s violations of the Olympic Truce have been well-documented, including its military actions in Georgia during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and its annexation of Crimea after the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. The country was barred from competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to its involvement in the Ukraine invasion, though Russian athletes were allowed to participate as neutral participants. The 2026 Winter Olympic host nations are now faced with the dual challenge of ensuring a peaceful atmosphere and overcoming the legacy of geopolitical tensions that have affected the Olympic movement in recent years.