Estonia to Propose Stripping EU Funding from IOC and Federations That Allowed Russian Athletes

Estonia has emerged as the leader in efforts to impose sanctions on the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This follows the IOC's decision to lift the disqualification of the Russian Olympic Committee, which had been in place since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Estonian Ministry of Culture announced the day after the IOC's decision that it will propose to revoke European Union funding not only from the IOC but also from several international sports federations that have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete.

Minister of Culture Heidy Purga emphasized that "as long as the unprovoked and unjustifiable Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues, and people continue to suffer, we cannot allow sport to be used to normalize this situation." She also pointed out that Ukrainian athletes are unable to train and prepare under similar conditions.

Seven partner countries have joined Estonia in this initiative, although Minister Purga did not disclose their names. It is known, however, that they are from the Nordic bloc. More details will be provided in the LTV program "Panorāma."