Winter Olympics: Palestine's Absence and Israel's Participation Explained
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) firmly maintains that both Israel and Palestine should have equal opportunities to compete at the Olympic Games. However, as the Winter Olympics unfolds with over 3,500 athletes from 93 nations vying for 195 medals across 16 disciplines, global politics once again casts a shadow over the sporting spectacle.
Why Palestine Is Not Competing at the Winter Olympics
Palestine established a National Olympic Committee in 1993, gaining formal recognition from the IOC. This status allows the delegation to participate in Olympic events and organise training for athletes and coaches. Palestinian competitors have proudly represented their flag at every Summer Olympics since 1996, with a record eight-strong team at the Paris Games in 2024.
Despite this summer presence, Palestine has never fielded an athlete at the Winter Olympics. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began in October 2023, has devastated Palestine's infrastructure, including sports facilities and clubs, making training nearly impossible. Additionally, the nation lacks the financial resources to support elite athlete development.
Historically, Winter Olympics have been dominated by Nordic countries and others with cold climates, such as Norway, which has topped the medal table for the past three Games. While the Olympic Movement has worked to expand winter sports beyond traditional regions, Palestine's warm climate presents an additional barrier to breaking into disciplines like skiing or ice hockey.
The conflict's toll is severe: the Palestinian Football Association reports that at least 800 athletes and sporting officials have been killed since October 2023, including over 100 children. With more than 90% of Gaza's population displaced, despite a ceasefire in October, strikes and violence continue, further hindering athletic pursuits.
Why Israel Is Allowed to Compete at the Olympics
The IOC has explicitly stated that the Israel-Hamas conflict is "not comparable" to the situation between Russia and Ukraine. In October 2023, Russia and its ally Belarus were suspended by the IOC due to Russia's war on Ukraine, specifically for taking over sporting authorities in occupied Ukrainian regions, which violated Ukraine's territorial integrity.
This suspension cut off Olympic funding and barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from representing their countries at the Paris Games, though some competed as neutral athletes under a neutral flag, with medals not counting toward official tables.
An IOC spokesperson clarified before the Paris Games that the Israel-Palestine scenario differs: "The relevant National Olympic Committees did not extend their area of jurisdiction over that of another NOC or outside their own area of jurisdiction. It is beyond our remit to react to any conflict or war situation between countries. This is the pure realm of politics."
This decision sparked anger from the Palestinian NOC, which accused the IOC of "double standards" in a letter prior to the Paris Olympics. In September 2025, the IOC confirmed Israel would not face a similar ban at the Milano Cortina Olympics, emphasising its commitment to dialogue over violence.
A statement from the IOC read: "The IOC deeply believes that differences between nations must be resolved through dialogue, not violence. The IOC is concerned by the disruption of competitions across the world, the restriction of access to host countries for athletes, and the boycotting and cancellation of competitions due to political tensions. These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic Movement from showing the power of sport."
As protests clash with police near Winter Olympics venues, the absence of Palestine and the presence of Israel highlight how geopolitical realities continue to intersect with the ideals of international sports, challenging the IOC's aim to remain apolitical.
