In a world facing conflict and division, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued a statement reinforcing its commitment to keeping sports a unifying force. The organization emphasized that the Olympic Movement must continue to bring people together through peaceful competition, a principle rooted in its founding values.
The IOC recently reaffirmed its stance on neutrality. A working group is currently discussing how to strengthen this approach to ensure it remains relevant in the future.
As a global organization, the IOC operates within a complex world. Each edition of the Olympic Games takes place against the backdrop of current political events. Despite these challenges, the IOC stated that its mission is to maintain a global sporting platform based on shared values, one that offers hope by allowing athletes from all nations to compete peacefully together.
The United Nations supports this mission through a resolution known as the Olympic Truce. This resolution encourages UN member states to ensure the safe passage of all qualified athletes traveling to the Games. The resolution is presented by the host country and adopted by UN members. It is inspired by the principles of the Olympic Movement.
The IOC clarified that the Olympic Truce is an aspirational resolution and not legally binding. While the IOC holds Permanent Observer status at the UN, it does not have the power to enforce the resolution. That responsibility lies entirely with the UN system.
In its statement, the IOC made a direct appeal to all UN member states. It asked them to support athletes who have qualified for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics and who may be affected by ongoing conflicts. The goal is to ensure these athletes can make the journey to the Games and take their place on the world stage.