The letter, signed by 43 well-known figures from Iranian sport, emphasises that athletes from Iran deserve to compete in international events and the Olympic Games with full respect for human dignity and gender equality, free from political interference.

The signatories also refer to the recent killing of Iranian athletes during a massacre by the Islamic Republic’s security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They call on the IOC to avoid any form of cooperation or appeasement toward the current leadership of Iran’s National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, noting that several senior officials are affiliated with the IRGC, a force accused of widespread human rights abuses.

Among those who signed the letter are Professor Iradge Ahrabi Fard, a leading academic figure in Iranian and American sports; Behrooz Sarshar, regarded as the founder of judo in Iran; Milad Zeynipour, a former Iranian Premier League footballer; along with several Iranian Olympians and international medalists.

The letter represents a rare collective appeal from Iran’s sporting community, calling on the Olympic movement to uphold its stated values of equality, human rights, and the protection of athletes. The letter is provided exclusively to SportsIn and is published in full below.

Open Letter from Iranian Athletes to the President of the International Olympic Committee

Date: 27.01.2026

Madam President, Kirsty Coventry,

We address you at a time when the people of Iran are facing one of the most violent waves of repression in recent history. The massacre of protesters by the Islamic Republic of Iran has claimed the lives of many citizens, including athletes, coaches, and referees from various sporting disciplines. Among the victims were gifted teenagers, members of Iran’s youth and junior national teams, young athletes who dreamed of one day competing in the Olympic Games.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned the killing of Iranian protesters by the Islamic Republic. The European Parliament has likewise adopted a firmer position and moved toward more severe sanctions. In contrast, the continued silence of the International Olympic Committee has raised serious concern. It appears that the principle of so called political neutrality has been prioritised over the protection of human life and the fundamental rights of athletes.

The IOC did not remain neutral in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and Belarus. Nor has it remained silent in the face of apartheid, where it has taken positions broadly recognised as justified and necessary. It is therefore deeply troubling that, in the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IOC has chosen to remain silent.

History will record that the IOC failed to act in response to gender segregation in Iranian sport, systematic discrimination against women athletes, and the state controlled and politicised nature of sport in Iran. History will also record that senior officials of Iran’s National Olympic and Paralympic Committees were official members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, promoted anti women and antisemitic views, and yet continued to represent the Olympic Movement, while the IOC maintained engagement with them.

As athletes, we believe in the values enshrined in the Olympic Charter, including respect for human dignity, equality, and non discrimination. These values cannot be selectively applied.

We therefore call upon you, as the first woman in history to lead the International Olympic Committee, to demonstrate that the lives and futures of Iranian women athletes matter. We urge you to show that Iranian athletes deserve to participate in international and Olympic competitions in a dignified and humane manner, free from coercion, discrimination, and fear.

We ask you to ensure that the Olympic flag serves as a protective umbrella for Iranian athletes. Allow them to compete under the Olympic flag in international and Olympic competitions when their fundamental rights and personal safety cannot be guaranteed. Let the Olympic Movement stand with athletes, not with repression, silence, or complicity.

The credibility of the Olympic Movement depends on the consistent defence of its values. The world is watching. History will judge.

Signatories in alphabetical order

• Ahrabi Fard, Iradge – Swimming
• Arab, Mostafa – Football
• Azizpour, Bahman – Boxing
• Azizi, Reza – Karate
• Bashi, Yal – Diving
• Bashiri, Saeid – Boxing
• Bozorgzadeh, Hoshang – Table Tennis
• Emad, Mehdi – Water Polo
• Entezarioun, Mohammadreza – Cycling
• Esfandiari, Rouhollah – Karate
• Fallah, Majid – Kickboxing
• Fallah, Mahnaz – Kickboxing
• Gharaie, Mahta – Karate
• Gharib, Fariborz – Sport Journalist
• Hajir, Mehrdad – Diving
• Hazardastan, Hossein – Handball
• Hosseini, Zari – Athletics
• Jodaki, Reza – Kung Fu
• Kamali, Amir – Athletics
• Karimi, Saeid – Water Polo
• Kazemi, Parviz – Volleyball
• Mahjoub, Javad – Judo
• Makani, Sosha – Football
• Maroofi, Abdoulwahab – Muaythai
• Mohebban, Gitty – Fencing
• Mofeed, Fariborz – Gymnastics
• Movahdi, Darioush – Water Polo
• Ramezani, Hossein – Jujitsu
• Robatipour, Reza – Karate
• Sarshar, Behrooz – Judo
• Sattari, Esfandiyar – Athletics
• Shyari, Morteza – Volleyball
• Soleimani, Aria – Water Polo
• Soleimani, Reza – Water Polo
• Tabrizi, Reza – Bodybuilding
• Varzideh, Syamak – Boxing
• Yavarzadeh, Behshad – Football
• Yazdani, Maziyar – Equestrian
• Yousefi, Parviz – Gymnastics
• Yousefi, Shahram – Weightlifting
• Youshanlou, Farzad – Karate
• Zandi, Karim – Athletics
• Zeynipour, Milad – Football

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The report is based on official sustainability data from the event and on a specific methodology designed to estimate so-called sponsorship-induced emissions, a factor that is not usually included in standard climate accounting. According to the analysis, the direct emissions projected for Milano Cortina 2026 place these Games within a range comparable to recent Winter Olympics, but the additional weight of commercial agreements with carbon-intensive sectors significantly increases the overall climate footprint.

The environmental footprint of the Winter Games

Of the 930,000 tonnes of CO₂ attributed to the organisation of the event, the largest share is linked to spectator travel, accounting for around 410,000 tonnes, or approximately 44 per cent of the total. This is followed by emissions related to Games planning and delivery, estimated at around 227,000 tonnes, and those associated with permanent infrastructure, which reach close to 290,000 tonnes, based on the latest available sustainability data.

Using climate models widely applied in scientific research, the report estimates that this volume of official emissions will, in the coming years, lead to the loss of approximately 2.3 square kilometres of snow cover in the northern hemisphere and more than 14 million tonnes of glacier ice. These are cumulative impacts that directly affect the natural environment on which winter sports depend and which intensify when additional indirect sources of emissions are taken into account.

Sponsorship and associated emissions

The study estimates that sponsorship agreements with three major companies from highly carbon-intensive sectors will induce an additional 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂, around 40 per cent more than the total official emissions of the event. The sponsorship agreement with Eni alone is associated with close to 700,000 tonnes, while agreements with Stellantis and ITA Airways are estimated to add approximately 450,000 and 150,000 tonnes respectively.

These induced emissions would result in an additional estimated loss of 3.2 square kilometres of snow and more than 20 million tonnes of glacier ice, bringing the combined impact of the Games and these sponsorships to 5.5 square kilometres of snow cover and more than 34 million tonnes of ice. The report highlights that this category of emissions is not yet included in standard climate accounting frameworks, despite its scale.

Mitigation measures and scope for action

The analysis also reviews measures that have contributed to emission reductions at recent Winter Olympic Games. Among the most effective are the reuse of existing venues and infrastructure, which has delivered savings of between 350,000 and 720,000 tonnes of CO₂ per edition, and the use of renewable energy, energy-efficient design and lower-impact materials, with additional reductions of up to 310,000 tonnes. In the case of Milano Cortina 2026, limiting the construction of new infrastructure has helped to contain the event’s structural emissions.

However, the report identifies two areas with significant scope for further improvement. The first concerns emissions linked to spectator air travel, which account for the largest share of the direct climate footprint. The second relates to the sponsorship model, as replacing agreements with high-carbon companies with lower-impact alternatives could generate savings of more than 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂, exceeding the reductions achieved through many operational measures to date.

Recommendations for the future of the Winter Games

Among its conclusions, the report argues that the International Olympic Committee and organising committees should end sponsorship agreements with fossil fuel companies, airlines and manufacturers of combustion-engine vehicles, replacing them with partners with a significantly lower climate footprint. It also recommends requiring sponsors to publish full emissions data, including so-called scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions across a company’s entire value chain, such as the use of its products and the travel of customers and suppliers, and which typically represent the largest share of corporate climate impact.

The document notes that the Olympic movement’s past experience, such as the removal of tobacco sponsorship following the 1988 Winter Olympics, provides a precedent for addressing today’s climate challenges. In the context of Milano Cortina 2026 and future Winter Games hosts, the report positions the management of emissions and sponsorship as a central factor in the long-term viability of the Winter Olympics and of the sports that depend on snow and ice.

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The survey, carried out among 4,010 respondents, also shows that 72% of the population engaged in some form of physical activity over the previous 12 months and that one in three people practises three or more disciplines. The impact is also visible in reduced inequalities: the participation gap between men and women has narrowed to one point, compared with six points in 2018, while young people remain the most active group, with 84% of those aged 15 to 29 practising sport regularly. In parallel, the budget surplus from Paris 2024 will fund 13 sports projects worth 3.27 million euros, focused on swimming, inclusion for people with disabilities and strengthening local sports clubs.

Tokyo 2020 and the rise in weekly participation

In Tokyo, host of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the increase in sports participation was reflected in official data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. A survey conducted in October 2021 showed that 68.9% of residents practised sport or physical exercise at least once a week, representing an increase of 8.5 percentage points compared with the previous measurement using the same indicator.

The report highlights that growth was particularly strong in individual outdoor activities and in community-based programmes promoted after the Games, in a context shaped by the gradual reopening of sports facilities. The metric used — weekly frequency — points to a sustained change in sporting habits among Tokyo’s population in the period immediately following the Olympic Games.

Decline in sedentary behaviour after Athens 2004

The case of London provides one of the most extensively documented examples of post-Olympic change. According to Sport England’s Active People Survey, between October 2011 and October 2012 — a period encompassing the London 2012 Olympic Games — the number of adults practising sport at least once a week increased by 750,000 people.

By the end of the April 2012–April 2013 cycle, in the post-Games period, weekly participation levels remained 530,000 people above the pre-Olympic baseline, reaching 15.3 million active adults in England under the criterion of at least 30 minutes of moderate activity per week. The data show a peak aligned with the Olympic year and a partial retention of that increase in the months that followed.

In Athens, the Athens 2004 Olympic Games coincided with a marked reduction in declared sedentary behaviour. Eurobarometer data indicate that the share of the population stating they never exercised fell from 75% in 2003 to 57% in 2004, the Olympic year. This decline of 18 points occurred over a short period and reflects a significant shift in declared physical activity habits following the event, although later analyses underline that medium-term trends were influenced by economic conditions and sports policy choices.

Beijing 2008 and sustained growth in physical activity

In Rio de Janeiro, host of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, post-Games studies also identified an increase in physical activity. Research focused on local residents found that 51.6% of respondents reported having increased their level of physical activity after the event, while more than 60% expressed greater motivation to practise sport on a regular basis.

In Beijing, the legacy of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is reflected in long-term official data. According to figures from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the proportion of the population engaging in regular physical activity rose from 28.2% in 2007 to 37.2% in 2020. This increase occurred alongside post-Games public policies, such as the introduction of National Fitness Day in 2009, and illustrates sustained growth in official indicators of sports participation following the Olympic event.

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The US network CBS, while independently confirming that a large-scale massacre has taken place across Iran, put the death toll even higher, estimating that nearly 20,000 people may have been killed.

Among those reported dead are several well-known figures from Iranian sport. Ahmad Khosravani, a member of the Shemiran three-on-three basketball team and a former national champion with the club, was shot dead by IRGC forces while protesting in the streets.

Mojtaba Torshiz, a former player for Tractor Sazi Tabriz football club, and Mehdi Lavasani, a coach at Mahan Novin FC who had previously represented Iran at the youth national level, were reportedly shot dead alongside Torshiz’s wife. Masoud Zatparvar, a national bodybuilding champion, was also killed by direct gunfire from IRGC forces while participating in the protests. Following the news of his son’s death, his father, Majid Zatparvar, a widely respected Iranian weightlifting coach, reportedly suffered a heart attack.

According to updated data from NetBlocks, Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown had reached 132 hours by the morning of Wednesday, 14 January. The Islamic Republic has effectively prevented the flow of information and images by cutting internet access and disrupting international communications. The killings have taken place under what activists describe as “digital darkness”, making independent verification extremely difficult. More evidence of the scale of the violence is expected to emerge once connectivity is restored.

Iran internet blackout now past its 132nd hour

Iran’s National Olympic Committee is widely regarded by critics as being under the effective control of the IRGC, an organisation designated as a terrorist entity by several countries, including the United States. The committee is currently headed by Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, a former bodyguard to Ayatollah Khamenei and a senior member of the Basij, a paramilitary force that plays a central role in domestic repression and has been directly involved in street-level violence against protesters.

Sport in Iran is deeply intertwined with the state and its security apparatus. Heads of national federations are either members of the IRGC or have been vetted and approved by institutions linked to it. Coaches, referees, and international officials are expected to operate strictly within ideological boundaries set by the authorities.

As a result, Iranian sport functions largely as a patronage system. Athletes, coaches, and officials who do not conform to the regime’s political and ideological criteria are systematically marginalised or excluded altogether. This has fuelled a significant wave of emigration among Iran’s sporting elite. The scale of this exodus was highlighted at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where approximately half of the Refugee Olympic Team was made up of Iranian athletes.

Against this backdrop, serious questions are being raised at the international level. Madam President Kirsty Coventry, in the face of these reports of mass killings, systematic repression, and the politicisation of sport under a security state, what is your position on the massacre of the Iranian people?

Mass killing of the Iranian people – Jan 2026

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From an economic perspective, the operating budget for staging the Games is estimated at between 1.7 and 1.9 billion euros, covering production and event delivery costs and representing an increase on earlier projections. Beyond direct spending, studies estimate that the total economic impact of the Games on Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige could exceed 5.3 billion euros, factoring in tourism, urban investment and broader economic activity. The organisational strategy relies on the use of pre-existing infrastructure in around 85% of cases, in line with the efficiency and sustainability guidelines promoted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Perfect ice” in Milano

One of the most closely watched venues has been the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, built specifically for the Olympic ice hockey tournament. The arena hosted a test event in January 2026, including Serie A matches and the Coppa Italia final, attracting thousands of spectators and designed to assess ice quality, access points and crowd management.

Following the test, Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, said the organisers were “very satisfied” with the results, highlighting that the event made it possible to evaluate “the field of play and the management of spectators and transport” in cooperation with local authorities. Luc Tardif, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), echoed that assessment, stating that “the ice was perfect” and describing the test as “excellent preparation for the Games”. Cristophe Dubi, executive director of the Games at the IOC, described the recent work at the venue as “exceptional”, particularly in terms of ice management.

Despite these positive milestones, some auxiliary areas such as hospitality zones, services and final finishes inside the arena still need to be completed, although organisers insist everything will be ready before the official start of competition.

Olympic tracks and mountain venues, tested and ready

The Cortina Sliding Centre represents a complete rebuild of the former Eugenio Monti track, designed to host bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions. With an associated cost of approximately 118 million euros, the course has been developed to meet modern safety standards and the technical requirements of the relevant international federations. The new sliding centre has completed pre-homologation and has already been tested by international athletes during trial events, confirming that the venue is technically prepared to stage Olympic competition.

Across the mountain venues, several sites have reached this final stage of preparation with a high level of readiness, thanks to their experience hosting international events. Livigno, which will stage snowboard and freestyle skiing competitions, completed construction of its Aerials & Moguls Park in 2024. The facility has already been used as an official test event on the FIS World Cup circuit. Venues that have already hosted test competitions significantly reduce operational risk and now focus primarily on logistical fine-tuning and spectator services.

A similar approach has been applied at historic venues such as Val di Fiemme, Anterselva, Bormio and Livigno, all regular stops on the international calendar for alpine skiing, biathlon and Nordic disciplines. In these locations, investment has focused on upgrading access routes, systems for injected snow production, technical zones and media facilities, without the need for major structural rebuilding.

Urban legacy and the final stretch

In terms of legacy and support infrastructure, the Milano Olympic Village, located in the Scalo Romana district, is one of the most advanced projects. The residential complex was handed over to the organising committee in June 2025, allowing time for operational, security and logistical adjustments. During the Games, it will accommodate around 1,300 athletes and delegation members, before being converted into a university residence and mixed-use urban space, with more than 1,700 student beds and public services, in line with the legacy model promoted by the IOC.

At present, the overall picture shows an advanced state of readiness. Critical venues such as the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena have successfully completed test events with positive evaluations from organisers, federations and athletes, while the Cortina Sliding Centre has passed its initial homologation phases and athlete testing. The focus in the coming weeks will be on completing auxiliary spaces, making final operational adjustments and coordinating across venues, within a tight schedule but with the main infrastructure already active ahead of the Olympic appointment in February.

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The vast geographical spread of Milano Cortina 2026 is not driven by a desire to grow, but by the opposite logic: to reduce impact. The project aligns with Olympic Agenda reforms, opting to adapt the Games to the territory rather than the other way around, reusing existing venues and avoiding unnecessary large-scale construction.

This approach was already seen in Paris 2024, where sport was integrated into the urban core through temporary venues. In Italy, the idea takes a different form: competitions are scattered across Alpine valleys, drawing on a deeply rooted winter tradition, with venues long accustomed to hosting World Cups and international championships.

Alpine tradition and organisational experience

Italy is often associated with the Mediterranean, art and historic cities, but its mountain identity is just as strong. “Mountain culture and winter sports are part of our DNA”, explains Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Organising Committee, recalling that the country has one of the largest Alpine areas in Europe.

That sporting heritage is matched by Milan’s experience as a major host of global events, from UEFA Champions League finals to Expo 2015, as well as the expertise built after Turin 2006. Part of the organising team returns to the Olympic stage and more than half of the 120,000 registered volunteers have already taken part in major international sporting events.

Returning to iconic venues

If the model is lighter, the symbolic impact of the venues will be anything but. Many events return to places considered true sanctuaries of their disciplines. “Many athletes will have the chance to win the ‘Wimbledon’ of their sport”, notes Pierre Ducrey, IOC Sports Director.

Anterselva, with more than half a century of biathlon history, Bormio and its demanding Stelvio slope, or the Olympia delle Tofane, the legendary “Queen of Speed” in Cortina, will once again act as unforgiving judges. Even the new Cortina Sliding Centre connects with the past, rising on the layout of a former track that once defined the town’s winter identity.

Competing where the public understands the sport

For athletes, these settings are far more than a backdrop. “There is nothing like competing in a venue full of spectators who understand your sport”, stresses Kaveh Mehrabi, Olympian and Director of the IOC Athletes’ Department, an experience he himself lived at Beijing 2008.

That connection between audience and discipline turns the Games into a kind of sporting pilgrimage. Even ski mountaineering, making its Olympic debut, will take place in the natural environment that shaped the sport, reinforcing the bond between sport, landscape and identity.

Milan, an urban laboratory for ice sports

Not all winter sports have deep roots in Italy, and that is where Milan comes into play. Ice disciplines will find their stage in a city accustomed to reinvention, blending industrial heritage, design and contemporary culture.

Speed skating will be held for the first time in a temporary venue inside the pavilions of Fiera Milano Rho, transformed into an Olympic oval. Ice hockey will occupy a new arena set to become one of the city’s major concert and entertainment venues after the Games.

A legacy designed for the day after

The urban vision extends to the Olympic Village, conceived from the outset to be transformed into student housing. The project will revitalise a former rail yard and give momentum to a neighbourhood aiming to establish itself as Milan’s next cultural hub.

“Milano Cortina 2026 tells a very beautiful story, with some sports returning to their natural homes in the mountains and others building new urban identities”, summarises Ducrey, underlining the balance between heritage and future that defines the project.

A logistical challenge with a shared spirit

Organising Games spread between snowy mountains and major cities involves clear logistical challenges. Each cluster will have its own Olympic Village and facilities, grouping sports and audiences, while still functioning as part of a single ecosystem.

“Even operating across such vast territories, everything will be under one spirit, one roof: that of the Olympic Games”, says Dubi, convinced that technology, shared ceremonies and cultural life in public squares will help Milan, Cortina, Livigno or Predazzo feel connected throughout the event.

This model also opens up new legacy opportunities. The Olympic footprint extends to small Alpine towns rarely seen on the global stage, showcasing landscapes such as the enrosadira of the Dolomites, high-altitude gastronomy in South Tyrol or the Roman baths of Bormio overlooking snow-covered peaks.

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In traditional disciplines such as alpine skiing, athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin arrive as clear favourites after strong World Cup seasons, while in snow sports such as snowboard, riders with a proven medal record add both spectacle and international appeal. On the ice, ice hockey and figure skating feature world-class names, and in technical events such as short track or combined disciplines like biathlon, competition is expected to be particularly intense.

This article brings together a selection of leading stars and medal contenders by sport who could play a decisive role at Milano-Cortina 2026.

List of athletes to watch at Milano-Cortina 2026

Alpine skiing

• Mikaela Shiffrin — United States

• Lindsey Vonn — United States

• Sofia Goggia — Italy

• Federica Brignone — Italy

Snowboard and freestyle snow sports

• Chloe Kim — Snowboard halfpipe, United States

• Queralt Castellet — Snowboard, Spain

• Lucas Eguibar — Snowboard cross, Spain

• Nora Cornell — Snowboard slopestyle and big air, Spain

• Eileen Gu — Freestyle skiing, China

Ice sports: ice hockey and figure skating

• Sidney Crosby — Ice hockey, Canada

• Connor McDavid — Ice hockey, Canada

• Madison Chock and Evan Bates — Ice dance, United States

• Ilia Malinin — Figure skating, United States

• Tomás Guarino — Figure skating, Spain

Short track and speed skating

• William Dandjinou — Short track, Canada

• Arianna Fontana — Short track, Italy

• Nil Llop — Speed skating, Spain

• Daniel Milagros — Speed skating, Spain

• Jenning de Boo — Speed skating, Netherlands

Biathlon and combined events

• Quentin Fillon Maillet — Biathlon, France

Bobsleigh and sliding sports

• Kaillie Humphries — Bobsleigh, United States

Ski mountaineering

• Ana Alonso — Spain

• Oriol Cardona — Spain

• Ot Ferrer — Spain

Curling

• Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner — Italy

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The impact of Singapore 2025 comes within a context of sustained growth following the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which marked a turning point in digital consumption of Paralympic sport. Digital channels of the International Paralympic Committee -IPC- surpassed 305 million video views in the post-Games cycle, representing a 35% increase compared with Tokyo 2020, alongside an 83% rise in global broadcast hours.

A new digital benchmark at World Championships level

Against this backdrop, Singapore 2025 stood out for its own performance. Throughout the Championships, 4.6 million video views, 3.9 million engagements and 131.2 million impressions were recorded across social media and digital platforms, establishing the event as the most impactful Para Swimming competition in the digital space to date.

Live consumption further reinforced these results. Streaming coverage accumulated 258,000 views on YouTube, confirming sustained audience interest throughout the competition week and positioning the Championships as a reference point for the digital distribution of standalone events within the Paralympic calendar.

Sustained growth beyond the Paralympic Games

Figures from Singapore 2025 also exceeded the results achieved by Para Swimming during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where the discipline’s channels generated 37.7 million impressions and 1.8 million engagements. This comparison highlights the ability of dedicated World Championships to attract significant audiences beyond the framework of multi-sport events.

The scale of growth becomes even clearer when viewed against previous editions of the Championships. Madeira 2022 recorded 1.2 million video views and 74,700 engagements, while Manchester 2023 reached 1.9 million video views and 98,600 engagements. At Singapore 2025, video views multiplied and engagement rose from figures below 100,000 to nearly four million, alongside a sharp increase in impressions to more than 131 million.

Strategic dimension of Paralympic digital growth

One of the strategic milestones of the Championships was the integration of new platforms. The launch of the official Para Swimming TikTok channel in 2025 contributed directly to the event’s global reach, generating more than two million impressions and video views and 13,425 engagements during the World Championships, reinforcing the role of short-form content in attracting new audiences.

The geographic reach of Singapore 2025 further reflected the digital expansion of Paralympic sport. Brazil ranked first among the countries reached, followed by Australia and the United Kingdom, alongside the United States, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Germany and India, confirming the consolidation of audiences across both traditional and emerging markets.

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Ng holds senior positions within the Olympic structure and in institutions connected to taekwondo, while his family maintains interests in companies such as Refract Technologies and Pearl Trust, both of which have benefitted from decisions related to esports. This overlap of responsibilities has intensified the pressure on the IOC, whose official response—limited to denying the accusations without providing documentation—has failed to quell the controversy.

A blow to internal credibility

The release of these minutes has caused unease within the Olympic movement. Members of several federations privately acknowledge that the case raises doubts about the esports project. The complaint submitted by a London law firm included extensive documentation that does not appear to have been thoroughly reviewed before being dismissed. This decision has reinforced the sense of opacity at a time when the IOC was expected to strengthen its credibility through the launch of the Olympic Esports Games.

The economic impact has added further tension. Reports point to a financial hole of nearly 20 million dollars and the loss of the Saudi sponsorship initially intended to support the new Esports Olympic Games. In parallel, Ng is reportedly promoting the creation of a new international esports federation, a move analysts interpret as an attempt to maintain influence in a business widely questioned for its management practices.

This situation has generated concern among various actors in international sport, who fear that this drift could jeopardise the integration of esports into the Olympic movement. The challenge is not only financial but also institutional, especially in a sector that demands stable structures, clear rules and recognisable governance.

The contrast with other regulated structures

In this context, the role of Vlad Marinescu, president of the International Esports Federation (IESF), stands out. He has spent years trying to provide the esports ecosystem with solid regulatory foundations. His work has prioritised integrity standards, governance mechanisms and a federative model capable of preventing precisely the kind of situations where private interests become intertwined with public roles.

The comparison between both models has revived the debate on what kind of structure the digital ecosystem truly needs if it is to become part of the Olympic programme with guarantees. And, above all, who should lead that process at such a critical moment for the digital Olympic movement.

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In this framework, the Summit endorsed the recommendation of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that youth athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports should no longer be restricted from accessing international youth competitions, in both individual and team sports. These provisions were confirmed as applicable to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Implementation of IOC recommendations in youth competitions

According to the information provided, the IOC Recommendations of 28 March 2023 no longer apply to youth competitions. As a result, youth athletes from Russia or Belarus must be authorized to compete in all international youth competitions, in both individual and team events, without additional eligibility requirements imposed by international federations, such as background checks. The definition of a youth competition will depend on the regulations established by each international federation.

The statement also notes that standard protocols of international federations or event organizers regarding flags, anthems, uniforms, and related elements must be applied, provided that the relevant national sports organization is in good standing. If a national federation is suspended, the international federation must apply neutral protocol elements. It also states that government officials from Russia or Belarus must not be accredited or invited to international sporting events or meetings, in both youth and senior categories. International federations must continue to refrain from organizing or supporting international sporting events in Russia, a recommendation that no longer applies to Belarus.

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