International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry spoke at the General Assembly of the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) about the importance of keeping sport free from political interference.

The 46th General Assembly of the OCA is taking place in Tashkent. The event was attended by the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev.

— The Olympic Games are a symbol of peace and unity. The Olympic Games provide a place free from prejudice and controversy. Athletes fight among themselves, but maintain friendship and mutual respect. This is the true Olympic spirit. And so it is our responsibility to keep the sport free from political interference. So that every athlete can compete and be judged only on the basis of sportsmanship,” Coventry said.

Olympic swimming champion Coventry replaced German Thomas Bach as head of the IOC in June 2025.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from 6 to 22 February 2026.

The press service of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told Match TV that there are no concerns about the lack of snow for competitions at the Olympics in Italy.

The Winter Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) from February 6 to 22.

— Earlier there was information that competitions at the Olympic Games in Italy may not take place due to lack of snow. How can you comment on this?

“This information is completely unfounded, as you have probably already seen from watching a number of international winter sports competitions that have recently taken place in the region. Preparations are going very well, the venues are being prepared, the athletes are looking forward to the opening ceremony on February 6,” the IOC press service told Match TV.

The Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Mikhail Degtyarev said that the ROC will sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Qatar Olympic Committee.

— On the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia in Tashkent, I met with the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Vice-President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), member of the IOC Olympism 365 Commission, His Highness Sheikh Joan bin Hamad Al-Thani.

We discussed issues of bilateral interaction. We agreed to prepare for signing a memorandum of cooperation between the Olympic Committees of Russia and Qatar.

I am sure this will open up new opportunities for the development of sports, support for young athletes and strengthening the partnership between our countries,” Degtyarev wrote in his Telegram channel.