IOC may amend Olympic Charter, potentially easing Russia's return

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will consider proposed amendments to the Olympic Charter on 24 June that are aimed at strengthening the principle of political neutrality in sport.

Source: Reuters

Details: The updated wording is intended to keep sport free from any political, governmental, cultural or economic influence. The IOC says the changes are intended to protect athletes and competitions from external pressure and prevent the Olympic Games from being used for political purposes.

The proposal has already sparked debate. Some observers believe the changes could affect future decisions regarding the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions and potentially weaken existing restrictions.

Critics warn that the new wording could be interpreted as a signal of a softer approach towards issues related to war and doping scandals. The organisation Global Athlete said the move could undermine trust in the Olympic movement.

Russian athletes have been subject to sanctions following the doping scandal linked to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as IOC recommendations issued in 2022 calling for the exclusion of athletes after the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The membership of the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended in October 2023 for violating the Olympic Charter.

Recently, the IOC has gradually eased some restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus. In particular, it lifted the suspension preventing Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flag in international competitions, including qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. These restrictions remain in force for Russian athletes for the time being, although discussions about revising them are ongoing.

Read more: Russia's return to international sport: a timeline of events

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