Neutrality of the Olympic Movement against recent developments in sport and geopolitics : need of reconceptualisation

Abstract

The Olympic Movement’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine underlines an existing dilemma on political neutrality and how the governance of sport has struggled to come to terms with the principle of political neutrality. The status of Russian and Belarussian athletes and teams in international sports is an ongoing disputative matter for the governance of sport. This paper aims to contribute to conceptional clarity concerning the principle of political neutrality and to spell out a specific application of political neutrality to the Olympic Movement in recognition of its commitment to human rights and promotion of peace. Accordingly, it observes neutrality in the practice of the Olympic Movement and challenges the applicability of the principle of neutrality in the social realm around politics and capitalism. The findings highlight the discrepancy between the Olympic Movement’s policies on political neutrality and its governance that eventually erode the autonomy of sport. The paper concludes by arguing for the need of reconceptualisation of the neutrality principle in (Olympic) sport. To address future global challenges that violate fundamental principles of international law, the paper proposes the incorporation of transparent procedures and limitations.