War in Ukraine has ended sport’s ‘neutrality’ myth

The dangerous and damaging myth of “political neutrality” in sport, long peddled by the likes of the International Olympic Committee and Fifa, has completely disintegrated in response to Russia’s barbarous, unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine.

For too long, those in positions of power at the highest echelons of the global sporting ecosystem have cosied up to authoritarian regimes and brutal dictators, turned their heads away from the plight of fellow human beings as their rights have been withheld or curtailed, and allowed commercial interest to trump common interest. But this time sport has been forced to pick a side, and really mean it.

Fuelled by overwhelming global public outrage and the uniting spirit of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, governing bodies, clubs, teams, sponsors and athletes have been asked to wield their power and influence to do whatever they can to bring about peace, draw attention to the need for safe routes for all those fleeing the conflict, and promote wider condemnation and ostracism of Putin’s regime. Sport’s only utility to wider society is when it lives true to its stated values – when it acts to make the world a better place and dares to speak up and speak out in support of the universal principles upon which it is based.

Sport must never be allowed to peddle the lie that its strength lies in cowardly nods to “neutrality”. It doesn’t now; it never has; it never will. Its strength lies in its truly global influence, its uniting, cross-cultural spirit of togetherness, and its fiercely confident promotion of the very best of our shared values.Tim HarperExecutive director, Equitysport

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