The document’s signatories expressed their concern about the lifting of the partial suspension of Russia and Belarus, which had been in effect since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, and the reinstatement of the national committees of the two countries as full members of the organisation.

They also called upon individual International Federations to follow the IOC stance to ensure no Russian or Belarusian state representation in their respective sports.

The statement has been signed by signatories from 33 countries, including 23 EU Member States, as well as Ukraine, Australia, Iceland, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The letter has also been signed by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.