The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Olympic truce for the period of the Games in Italy

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution on the Olympic Truce for the period of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy.

The document is called “Building peace and building a happier life on the planet through sports and the embodiment of the Olympic ideals.” It notes that the General Assembly “urges Member States to observe, individually and collectively, within the framework of the UN Charter, the Olympic Truce during the period beginning seven days before the opening of the Olympics and ending seven days after the close of the Paralympics.”

The General Assembly calls for “the safe passage, access and participation of athletes, officials and all other accredited persons taking part in the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games and, through other appropriate measures, to contribute to the safety of the Games”, and to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in their efforts “to use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation in conflict areas during and after the Games.”

The Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to 22, the Paralympics from March 6 to 15.

The IOC has not changed the rules for admitting Russians to participate in the Games: they can compete in a neutral status while undergoing checks. Russians are also prohibited from participating in team sports. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) currently do not allow Russians to participate in competitions, even in neutral status.

The IPC previously announced that Russian athletes will not take part in the Paralympics in Italy in any sport, since due to the position of international federations, Russians do not have the opportunity to qualify for the Games.