Nine European Union member states have urged the European Commission to restrict access to IOC EU funding for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and several other sports organizations. The move comes in response to the easing of sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes.
The initiative was launched in response to a July 7 decision by the IOC Executive Board, which reinstated the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and recommended reviewing current restrictions on Russian athletes. In February 2022, the IOC had recommended banning participation of Russian and Belarusian representatives in international competitions. The organization later allowed individual athletes to compete under a neutral status subject to specific conditions, enabling them to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Estonia initiated the joint letter, which was also signed by the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, Romania, Finland, and Denmark. The document was addressed to Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Sport. The letter emphasizes that international bodies must uphold human rights, the rule of law, and peaceful international relations, arguing that organizations acting contrary to these values should not receive EU financial support.
Organizations Facing IOC EU Funding Cuts
The coalition is calling for blocking access to EU funding programs, including the Erasmus+ education and sport program, for the following bodies:
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- International Fencing Federation (FIE)
- World Aquatics
Scope of the IOC EU Funding
The primary mechanism for European support of sports organizations is the Erasmus+ program. Its sports budget for the 2021–2027 cycle totals approximately €470 million. From this fund, the IOC and international sports federations regularly receive targeted grants for joint projects, promoting inclusivity, and organizing events.
Individual grants, distributed through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), range from tens to hundreds of thousands of euros for each approved project. A complete block on funding would prevent these organizations from financing non-profit and social initiatives within Europe.