Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with the new president of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, during which he emphasized the importance of maintaining a principled position on the exclusion of athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Support for Ukrainian Athletes and Criticism of Russian Aggression
Zelensky congratulated Coventry on her election to the position, wished her success, and thanked the International Olympic Committee for supporting Ukrainian athletes during this difficult time for the country. The President stressed that the Russian Federation continues its aggression, which destroys both sports infrastructure and the fundamental principles of Olympism.
“There is currently no greater destroyer of sports infrastructure and even the very principles of Olympism in the world than the Russian state. Since the start of the full-scale war, over 600 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russian strikes, and hundreds of our sports facilities have been destroyed.”
The head of state also pointed out that Russia is trying to use international sporting events to spread propaganda of hatred and war, turning any sports participation into a tool of state ideology.
Position on the 2026 Olympics and Cooperation with the IOC
During the conversation, issues regarding preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will take place in Italy, were discussed. Zelensky emphasized that not only Ukraine but also many other countries expect the IOC to maintain the same principled policy that was applied during the Paris Olympics regarding the exclusion of representatives from Russia and Belarus.
The President of Ukraine proposed to provide the International Olympic Committee with all necessary information to make appropriate decisions and invited Kirsty Coventry to visit Ukraine.
Kirsty Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion and former swimmer, became the president of the IOC in March 2025.
It is worth noting that in October 2024, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, along with Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny, made a joint statement about the impossibility of Russia’s return to the global sports arena. This was in response to statements by IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. regarding the prospects of Russian sports.