“We cannot directly interfere in political issues or conflicts between countries.” IOC reacts to US actions in Venezuela

The press service of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), responding to a question from Match TV about US actions in Venezuela, stated that the organization cannot directly interfere in political issues or conflicts between countries.

In early January, the US military launched a large-scale attack on Venezuela, and the President of the South American state, Nicolas Maduro, was captured and taken out of the country.

— How does the IOC assess the actions of the United States in Venezuela? Could the United States be banned from any competitions over this issue, including the 2026 Olympics?

“In a world racked by conflict and division, the International Olympic Committee firmly believes that sport must remain a beacon of hope—a force that unites the world in peaceful competition. This lies at the very basis of the Olympic Movement and follows from the fundamental principles of Olympism. This was again emphasized by the IOC Executive Board in September 2025.

As a global organization, the IOC must manage a complex reality. At each Olympic Games, the IOC must take into account the current political context and recent events in the world. We have always dealt with this successfully. The ability to unite athletes, regardless of their background, is fundamental to the future of values-based, truly global sport that can inspire hope in the world.

For this reason, the IOC cannot directly intervene in political issues or conflicts between countries, as this is beyond our competence. This is the realm of politics. Our role is to ensure that athletes can participate in the Olympic Games, regardless of their background.

At the 2024 Paris Games, athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees and the Refugee Olympic Team took part in their sports at the Olympic venues and lived peacefully together in the Olympic Village, despite the difficult international geopolitical situation, the IOC press service told Match TV.