The Olympic Summit, held on 11 December 2025, reaffirmed that athletes have a fundamental right to access sport worldwide and to compete free from political interference or pressure from government bodies. This principle was reaffirmed as part of discussions on the values that govern the Olympic Movement and their application in the current context.

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.