Szijjarto called for an end to discrimination in sports

The international community must stop discrimination in sports that are not related to political decisions. This was stated on October 31 by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto during a speech at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand.

According to the minister, sport should unite, not divide the world. Therefore, UNESCO must take measures against discrimination in sports.

"We must make it clear: no athlete can be held responsible for the decisions of political leaders, and no one can be forced to make political statements," Szijjarto said.

The diplomat recalled how in 1984 the Communist Party banned Hungarians from participating in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At that time, on the initiative of the USSR, the socialist countries boycotted the Olympics.

"We do not want today's international sports organizations to use such methods," the Foreign Minister stressed.

Szijjarto added that the Hungarian government is against the suspension of athletes by international sports organizations because of the decisions of the political leaders of their states.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on October 8 that sport should not be politicized and there should be no double standards.

Later, on October 10, she called the speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Georgy Tikhy, a "complete layman" because of his statements about a truce between the Russian and Ukrainian sides during the 2026 Olympics.

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