Dr. Astrit Hasani, president of the European Weightlifting Federation -EWF- and founder of the Sport Above Politics Movement, has issued a public statement reflecting on the role of sport as a space for equality and fair competition. In his view, “sport has demonstrated for decades its ability to rise above politics”, even in periods marked by deep international division.
In his remarks, Hasani points out that the history of sport offers clear examples of how competition has served as a channel for dialogue when politics has failed to do so. He refers to football matches played between East and West Germany during the Cold War, which, he explains, “did not resolve political differences, but opened spaces for recognition and coexistence when other avenues were closed”.
Sport as a space for dialogue beyond political conflict
The president of the EWF also refers to the European Judo Championships held in April 2016 in Kazan, Russia, where Kosovo won a gold medal. Despite the host country not recognising Kosovo’s independence, “the flag was raised and the anthem played in accordance with sporting protocol”, a gesture that, according to Hasani, showed that “sport remained sport, without altering geopolitical positions”.
Building on these examples, Hasani stresses that “athletes must be judged by their performance, not by their passports or political circumstances”, and clarifies that the principle of Sport Above Politics “is not neutrality in the face of injustice”, but rather “respect for fairness, dignity and the universal rules that unite humanity beyond conflict”.
Excluding athletes does not resolve conflicts
In his statement, the head of the European Weightlifting Federation also recalls the consequences of political interference in major sporting events, citing the boycotts of the Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. In both cases, he notes, “the real losers were the athletes”, who were deprived of unique opportunities to compete, win medals and secure prizes or pensions linked to their results. Hasani adds that the joint participation of athletes from both blocs at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games was only possible once the political context had improved, reinforcing his belief that “excluding athletes for conflicts beyond their control causes lasting harm without resolving the underlying issues”.
In this context, Hasani insists that “neutrality in sport does not imply support, recognition or validation of any political position”, but simply “respect for the integrity of competition and shared rules”. As he explains, sport “does not require political agreement to function, but clear rules, fairness and mutual respect”.
As a recent example of the consequences of disregarding this principle, the founder of the Sport Above Politics Movement refers to the decision taken in October 2025 by Indonesia, which cancelled visas for gymnasts from Israel who were due to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, preventing their participation. “Situations like this could be avoided if there were greater public understanding of sporting values”, he argues.
Sport Above Politics Movement in the current international context
Hasani maintains that “allowing athletes to compete is a sporting obligation, not a political statement”, and that participation in international competitions “does not amount to diplomatic recognition or institutional alignment”. In his view, a society that clearly distinguishes between sport and politics would be “less inclined to exert pressure for the exclusion of athletes”.
In an international landscape shaped by conflict, the president of the European Weightlifting Federation concludes that upholding the principle of Sport Above Politics “is not a sign of weakness”, but rather “a deliberate commitment to fairness, consistency and human dignity”, regardless of the number of wars taking place or the political responsibilities associated with them.
