IOC urges UN Member States to support qualified athletes affected by conflict ahead of the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
Lausanne | By Sayer Zaland
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe participation of athletes worldwide, calling on United Nations Member States to facilitate secure travel for competitors heading to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.
In a statement published on March 3, the IOC emphasized that sport must remain a symbol of hope and unity in a world marked by conflict and division. The organization stressed that neutrality remains a core principle of the Olympic Movement, recently re-emphasised by the IOC Executive Board as part of ongoing discussions under the “Fit for the Future” process.
The IOC highlighted the importance of the United Nations resolution titled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal,” commonly known as the Olympic Truce Resolution. The resolution seeks to ensure safe passage for all qualified athletes traveling to the host country of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The committee clarified that the Olympic Truce Resolution is aspirational and non-binding, adopted by UN Member States for each edition of the Games. While the IOC holds Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations, it does not have the authority to enforce the resolution’s implementation.
The IOC therefore appealed to all UN Member States to support athletes who have qualified for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics and may be affected by recent conflicts, urging cooperation to safeguard their journey to the Games.
Background:
The Olympic Truce tradition draws inspiration from the ancient Greek concept of ceasefire during the Olympic Games, aiming to promote peace and dialogue through sport. As global tensions continue to impact international mobility, the IOC maintains that preserving a neutral and inclusive sporting platform remains central to the values of the Olympic Movement and the successful staging of global events.