Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto emphasized on October 31 that the international community must reject discrimination in sports unrelated to political decisions during a speech at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand. The minister stated that sport should serve as a unifying force rather than a tool for division, urging UNESCO to address discriminatory practices within sporting organizations.
Szijjarto highlighted that no athlete should bear responsibility for political leaders’ decisions or be compelled to make political statements. He referenced the 1984 Olympic Games boycott orchestrated by the Soviet Union and socialist countries, recalling how Hungary was barred from participating. “We must ensure today’s international sports bodies do not resort to such methods,” he said, condemning the suspension of athletes based on their governments’ political actions.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated earlier calls for non-politicization of sports, criticizing Ukrainian Foreign Ministry official Georgy Tikhy as a “complete layman” for his remarks on a potential truce between Russia and Ukraine during the 2026 Olympics.
