02/11/2026 Culture, science, éducation et médias
[En cours de traduction]
Reacting to the International Weightlifting Federation’s decision to award Moscow the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships and the recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowing the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey competitions, Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, made the following statement today:
“I strongly condemn the decision by the International Weightlifting Federation to award Moscow the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships, as well as the recent ruling paving the way for the return of Russian national teams to international ice hockey competitions.
At a time when Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues, these decisions raise serious questions about the responsibility of international sports governing bodies and their commitment to the values of sport.
Sport cannot be considered politically neutral when it is instrumentalised by governments to project power, gain international legitimacy and normalise aggression. Awarding major sporting events to Russia while its war against Ukraine continues risks turning international sport into an instrument of political propaganda and sends an unacceptable message to Ukraine and the international community.
In Resolution 2608 (2025), The Olympic Movement and peacekeeping: is sport neutrality serving sport values?, the Parliamentary Assembly made clear that the autonomy and neutrality of sport cannot be used as an excuse for silence or inaction in the face of serious violations of human rights and international law.
This does not mean that individual athletes should automatically be held responsible for the actions of their governments. However, this principle must not be exploited to justify the unconditional return of Russian national teams or the awarding of prestigious international competitions to Russia while its aggression continues.
International sports federations have a responsibility to act consistently and transparently, ensuring that decisions on participation and the hosting of major events respect human rights and the fundamental values of sport.
Sport must stand for peace, dignity and respect for human rights. It must never become a platform for legitimising aggression.”