The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a warning to countries on Sunday that exclude athletes from international competitions due to political reasons. The IOC expressed concerns about the increasing politicization of sports, which was discussed by IOC member Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović during a meeting of global sports leaders regarding countries interested in hosting future Olympic Games.
During her remarks, Grabar-Kitarović, the former president of Croatia, did not specifically mention any countries causing issues. However, it is relevant to note that Poland and Indonesia have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics, which is the next available Summer Games to be awarded.
Poland’s decision to exclude Russian athletes from participating in the European Games earlier this year, and Indonesia’s removal as the host of the men’s Under-20 World Cup due to their reluctance to stage games involving Israel, have both faced criticism.
“At the IOC’s annual meeting in Mumbai, India, we have observed an increasing number of government restrictions imposed on athletes’ access to international sporting events,” stated Grabar-Kitarović. The meeting began on Saturday with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their country’s intention to host the 2036 Olympics.
Grabar-Kitarović, who chairs the IOC panel responsible for engaging with potential Summer Games bidders, stressed the importance of considering any violations of the Olympic Charter during the bidding process. She emphasized that all interested parties and preferred hosts must commit to abiding by the IOC’s code of ethics and rules of conduct.
Indonesian football federation president Erick Thohir, an elected IOC member, was absent at the start of the meeting.
The selection process for the host of the 2036 Olympics will follow a new approach that avoids public campaigns and contested votes. A decision is expected no earlier than 2026 or 2027. This host selection process involves a closer working relationship between potential hosts and the IOC, giving the preferred candidate an exclusive negotiating period to refine their plans.
Previously, the IOC chose Olympic hosts through a traditional process that involved presenting a slate of candidates to the 100-strong IOC membership. For example, Brisbane was selected as the host for the 2032 Olympics using this new approach when IOC members approved a recommendation from the executive board led by IOC President Thomas Bach.
Some IOC members raised the possibility of extending Bach’s presidency for an additional four-year term until 2029. This extension would require a change in Olympic rules, which will likely be considered in July, on the eve of the 2024 Paris Games.
Regarding the hosting of the Winter Games, IOC members have approved a proposal to select hosts for the 2030 and 2034 editions simultaneously in Paris. Countries like Sweden, France, and Switzerland have been preparing bids for the 2030 edition. Salt Lake City in the United States is targeting the 2034 edition, but organizers in Utah have made themselves available for 2030 if needed.
In relation to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, certain sports bodies in Sweden have opposed the reintegration of Russian athletes and teams into international events. Both the Swedish and Swiss football federations refused to compete against Russian opponents last year, resulting in Russia’s exclusion from men’s World Cup qualifying and the women’s European Championship, respectively.