UN stunned as IOC President reads governments their rights, 'judge athletes by merit, not...'

IOC President Kirsty Coventry addressed the UN General Assembly, calling for politics to stay out of global sports and urging governments not to block athletes from competing due to political disputes. She praised the newly adopted resolution supporting the Olympic Truce ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan & Cortina d’Ampezzo, saying athletes must be judged on merit — not nationality or geopolitics. The truce will apply seven days before the Olympic Games and seven days after the Paralympic Games in 2026.