Second Statement on Russia’s War on Ukraine and International Sport
The text of the following statement has been endorsed by the Sports Ministers or their equivalent of the countries and persons listed at the bottom of the statement.
Beginning text:
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, facilitated by the Belarusian government, is abhorrent and a flagrant violation of its international obligations. Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations are the foundation of international sport.
We, as a collective of like-minded nations, reaffirm our March 8 statement and, while recognizing the autonomy of sports organisations, further affirm the position of our governments that:
- National sports governing bodies of Russia and Belarus should be suspended from international sports federations.
- People with close ties to the Russian and Belarusian states, including but not limited to government officials, should be removed from positions of influence in international sports federations, such as boards of directors and management committees. ‘organization.
- National and international sports organizations should consider suspending the broadcast of sports competitions in Russia and Belarus.
In cases where national and international sports organizations and other event organizers choose to allow sportspeople (including athletes, officials and administrators) from Russia and Belarus to participate in sports events:
- It should be clear that they do not represent Russian or Belarusian states.
- The use of official Russian and Belarusian flags, emblems and anthems should be prohibited.
- Appropriate steps should be taken to ensure that any public statements made or symbols displayed at sporting events – by all athletes, officials and administrators involved – are consistent with this approach.
We call on all international sport federations to heed these principles, applaud all those who have already taken action, and encourage our own national sport bodies to engage with their international federations to do so. These restrictions should be in place until cooperation within the rules-based international order becomes possible again.
Furthermore, we reiterate our encouragement to the international sports community to continue to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people, including by supporting the continuation and reconstruction of Ukrainian sport wherever possible.
Signed by the following Ministers or their equivalents:
- Australia: The Honorable Anika Wells MP, Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport
- Austria: Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, Minister of Arts and Culture, Civil Service and Sports
- Belgium: Valérie Glatigny, Minister for Higher Education, Adult Training, Scientific Research, University Hospitals, Youth, Houses of Justice, Youth, Sports and Promotion of Brussels of French community. This signature commits the French Community, the Flemish Community and the German-speaking Community of Belgium.
- Canada: The Honorable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sports
- Croatia: Dr Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sports
- Cyprus: Prodromos Prodromou, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth
- Czech Republic: Filip Neusser, President of the National Sports Agency
- Denmark: Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, Minister of Culture
- Estonia: Liina Kersna, Minister of Education and Research in the responsibilities of Minister of Culture
- Finland: Petri Honkonen, Minister of Science and Culture
- France: Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Germany: Mahmut Özdemir MP, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community
- Greece: Lefteris Avgenakis, Deputy Minister of Sports
- Iceland: Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Minister of Education and Children
- Ireland: Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht
- Italy: Valentina Vezzali, Secretary of State for Sports
- Japan: HE SUEMATSU Shinsuke, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Republic of Korea: PARK Bo Gyoon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
- Latvia: Anita Muižniece, Minister of Education and Science
- Liechtenstein: HE Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sports
- Lithuania: Dr Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Minister of Education, Science and Sports
- Luxembourg: Georges Engel, Minister of Sports
- Malta: Dr Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Youth, Sport, Research and Innovation
- Netherlands: Conny Helder, Minister of Long-Term Care and Sport
- New Zealand: Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Sport and Recreation
- Norway: Anette Trettebergstuen, Minister of Culture and Equality
- Poland: Kamil Bortniczuk, Minister of Sports and Tourism
- Portugal: Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Parliamentary Affairs (in charge of Youth and Sports)
- Romania: Carol-Eduard Novak, Minister of Sports
- Slovakia: Ivan Husar, State Secretary for Sports
- Slovenia: Dr Igor Papič, Minister of Education, Science and Sport
- Spain: Miquel Octavi Iceta i Llorens, Minister of Culture and Sports
- Sweden: Anders Ygeman, Minister for Integration and Migration
- United Kingdom: The Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- United States of America: Elizabeth Allen, Senior Official for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs