Would the IOC ban Israel or the US from the Olympics?

History tells us maybe...then again, maybe not

The International Olympic Committee has an opportunity to send a powerful message to certain nations. Will it?

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Let’s ignore the nonsensical niceties that often emanate from the IOC that suggest it is not a political organization; there are enough examples in its history to validate that it will inject itself into global politics when it believes it must.

Consider one recent example: In 2023, it suspended Russia’s Olympic Committee for incorporating four sports councils in the east of Ukraine. The IOC stated:

“(This) unilateral decision constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in accordance with the Olympic Charter.”

Violating territorial integrity. Remember those three words because the IOC cares not only about the territorial integrity of a country’s National Olympic Committee but also the country’s actual territorial integrity, right? If it doesn’t, then it should.

Thus, as we accept the IOC’s premise that respecting territorial integrity matters, we must ask what should the organization do in light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and of the recent bombings of Iran by two nations?

What should it do? Something meaningful. What will it do? Likely nothing.

Let’s begin with Gaza.

The former president of the IOC said in July 2024 that the organization had to remain neutral when considering the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. As such, Thomas Bach refused to listen to any arguments demanding that Israeli athletes be barred from the 2024 Summer Olympics. He similarly rebuffed Russia’s calls a few months earlier to deny Israeli athletes from participating in the Games.

The IOC had to remain neutral, Bach asserted.

Neutral, as genocide was being carried out.

Neutral, as thousands upon thousands of innocent people were dying either by bombs or an absence of food.

Neutral, as the UN and other global organizations begged for a ceasefire.

Bach appeared to justify his decision because “Palestine is not a recognized member state of the UN.”

Iran is.

Just weeks ago, it was relentlessly bombed by Israel (yes, Iran bombed Israel as well). The US joined in the attack against Iran, a move that could have had dangerous repercussions across the globe. One can be thankful that all sides recognized the hell they could have unleashed on each other and other parts of the world and backed off.

But that derails us from an important point: Iran’s territorial integrity had been violated. As a sovereign nation, it carries the expectation that another nation (or in this case, two) will not attack it. Right?

Therefore, as a means of relief, should it not ask the IOC to reject the participation of Israeli and American athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

I accept that such bans wouldn’t change the crisis. It seems certain that Israel and Iran will continue its assaults on each other, even if they are not as provocative as what we recently saw. America’s actions are less predictable, but Washington will remain strongly allied with Israel.

One hopes that the IOC wouldn’t immediately reject such an argument against suspending the US because of the billions and billions of dollars it gathers from television rights from American broadcasters. Sacrificing some of those dollars in order to validate that it has an ethical compass be the right thing to do.

Come to think of it, we’re talking about the IOC, so perhaps we are wasting our time even mentioning it.

The IOC claimed it was angry at the US earlier this year because the White House was restricting entry visas for people from various nations. It was so angry, the public was told, that it might pull the 2028 Summer Olympics from Los Angeles.

If concerns about entry visas prompted anger, and we must hope that the outrage was legitimate, then what does the attack on a sovereign nation do? The scales of injustice are higher when physical damage is inflicted on another nation and its people die.

Let’s not kid ourselves; neither Israel nor the US will face any sanctions from the IOC for what has happened in Gaza and Iran. But imagine if the IOC announced clearly and powerfully that if further provocations take place, then no Israeli or American athlete would be welcomed at the 2026 Winter Games.

One’s faith in the IOC might return, even if just a little bit.