24 Feb 2023 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomes the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 11^th Emergency Session A/ES-11/L.7, entitled “Principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, which was initiated by Ukraine. It “calls upon Member States and international organisations to redouble support for diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, consistent with the Charter”.

As an international organisation which is non-governmental, and is recognised by the UN as a Permanent Observer, the IOC heard this call for peace. As requested by the UNGA, the IOC stands ready not only to continue but to redouble its support for diplomatic efforts for a lasting peace.

This is fully in line with UN resolution A/77L.28 entitled “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”, which was adopted by consensus during the 77^th Session of the UN General Assembly on 1 December 2022. This resolution recognised that “major international sports events should be organised in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding and international cooperation, friendship and tolerance, and without discrimination of any kind, and that the unifying and conciliative nature of such events should be respected” (more information here).

As a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its commitment to its peace-building mission, the IOC has raised the Ukrainian and the UN flags together with the Olympic flag in front of Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, to mark this dark anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the support of Belarus.

Lausanne, 24 February 2023