Winter Olympics: Palestine's Absence and Israel's Participation Explained
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains that both Israel and Palestine should have equal opportunity to compete at the Games. However, as over 3,500 athletes from 93 nations vie for 195 medals across 16 disciplines at this Winter Olympics, global politics once again threatens to overshadow the sporting spectacle.
While the IOC strives to distance itself from political matters, the very composition of competing nations raises difficult geopolitical questions. For yet another Winter Games, there will be no athletes representing Palestine, while Israel is permitted to field a delegation despite its military actions in the Gaza Strip.
Although hostilities were formally paused by a ceasefire in October, strikes and killings have persisted, with more than 90 percent of Gaza's population remaining displaced. The Palestinian Football Association reports that at least 800 athletes and sporting officials have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, including over 100 children.
Why Palestine Is Not Competing at the Winter Olympics
Palestine has maintained a National Olympic Committee since 1993, when it received formal recognition from the IOC. This status enables the delegation to participate in Olympic Games and organise training for national athletes and coaches. Palestinian athletes have competed under their flag at every Summer Olympics since 1996, with a record eight-strong delegation at the Paris Games in 2024.
However, no Palestinian athlete has ever participated in a Winter Olympics. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, coupled with the extensive destruction of Palestine's infrastructure—including sporting facilities and clubs—has rendered athletic training nearly impossible. Furthermore, the country lacks the necessary funding to support athlete development to elite levels.
Historically, the Winter Olympics has been dominated by Nordic nations and others with cold climates, with Norway leading the medal table for the past three Games. While the Olympic Movement has attempted to expand winter sports beyond traditional regions, Palestine's warm climate presents an additional barrier to breaking into Olympic disciplines.
Why Israel Is Allowed to Compete at the Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has asserted that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is "not comparable" to that between Russia and Ukraine. Russia and its ally Belarus were suspended by the IOC in October 2023 due to Russia's war on Ukraine, specifically its takeover of sporting authorities in occupied Ukrainian regions, which the IOC deemed a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
This formal suspension severed the Russian Olympic Committee from all Olympic funding and prohibited Russian or Belarusian athletes from representing their countries at the Paris Games. Instead, some individuals competed as neutral athletes under a neutral flag, with any medals won not counting toward official standings.
An IOC spokesperson clarified before the Paris Games that the Israel-Palestine situation differed: "The relevant NOCs 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."
The IOC's decision sparked anger from the Palestinian NOC, which sent a letter prior to the Paris Olympics accusing the committee of "double standards." In September 2025, the IOC confirmed that Israel would not face a similar ban from the Milano Cortina Olympics this February.
A statement from the IOC emphasised: "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."
