Latvia joins eight European countries seeking to strip IOC of EU funding
Latvia, together with seven other European nations, plans to ask the European Commission to cut EU funding to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and several international federations for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to competition. Meanwhile, Latvia's own state support for its athletes' participation in the Olympics remains unclear.
Latvia has become one of eight European countries that intend to call on the European Commission to withdraw European Union (EU) funding from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and a number of international sports federations. This move is a response to the IOC's and federations' decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international sports competitions, despite Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
The group of eight countries, which includes Latvia, argues that providing EU funds to these organizations contradicts the Union's principles and values. The exact list of supporting countries has not yet been officially published.
Interestingly, while Latvia actively opposes the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international events, the country's internal policy regarding financial support for its own athletes to attend the Olympic Games remains unclear. This raises questions about whether and to what extent the Latvian state will fund its Olympians if they do compete.
This initiative is part of broader efforts to pressure international sports organizations to maintain sanctions against Russia and Belarus. Withdrawing EU funding would be a significant blow to the IOC and federations, which rely heavily on EU resources.
