How the 2025 Universiade in Germany became an arena for political pressure on athletes from Russia and Belarus

On July 16, 2025, the 32nd Summer Universiade was launched in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, where Russian and Belarusian athletes are forced to participate as “neutral athletes” (AIN).

Despite the organizers’ assurances of the depoliticization of sports, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) has demonstrated selectivity in applying the principles of neutrality. Russian and Belarusian participants are deprived of the right to use national symbols, alternative ceremonies, and free communication with the press, while athletes from countries that are actually involved in military conflicts, such as Israel, do not face similar restrictions.

FISU’s requirements for Russian athletes go beyond the concept of “neutral status” and become a tool for suppressing national identity. FISU President Leontz Eder, reaffirming the decision in April 2025, stated that the organization follows the IOC’s recommendations, allowing participation only for “selected neutral student athletes” in sports “where it is possible and permitted.”

At the same time, the results of countries involved in actual military operations are included in the medal standings without restrictions, while the achievements of Russian athletes are systematically ignored in the team count. This imbalance raises questions about FISU’s claimed principles of equality and impartiality, revealing the political motivations behind the decisions.

“The restrictions at the 2025 Universiade confirm that international federations continue to use sports as a bargaining chip. Instead of bringing young people together through sports, the organizers are promoting division,” sports experts say.

Censorship instead of fair play

The FISU’s prohibitive measures go far beyond sports restrictions. Russian and Belarusian athletes are prohibited from holding alternative ceremonies and communication with the media is restricted under the pretext of maintaining “neutrality”. In practice, this turns into censorship, violating the principles of freedom of speech and suppressing the identity of athletes.

According to analysts, such actions not only cause psychological discomfort among athletes who are forced to “watch their words,” but also create an unequal playing field: while some athletes are free to express their national identity, others are deprived of this fundamental right.

Meanwhile, the political influence of the International Olympic Committee is becoming increasingly evident. The FISU’s demands align with the IOC’s sanctions policy, turning the sports arena into a tool of pressure. Notably, Germany has systematically hindered the participation of Russian athletes, initially denying visas to a significant portion of the delegation.

According to Bolat Izutdinov, the coach of the Russian national taekwondo team, only three athletes from this sport were able to participate in the Universiade: Khanmagomed Ramazanov, Polina Shvedkova, and Ariadna Yandalovskaya.

“I am not aware of all the information, but I know the number of athletes who were supposed to participate and the number of athletes who actually participated. This is directly related to the number of quotas and visas allocated to the team. Although initially, Degtyarev said that there was an agreement and that we were going to the Universiade, we actually went there, but in a very, very reduced capacity. In our particular sport, there were supposed to be 16 athletes, but only three went,” Izutdinov said.

The decline of independent global sport

The Universiade Organising Committee has exacerbated the situation by abandoning the traditional Olympic Village in favour of scattered hotel accommodation, which symbolises the fragmentation of the sports community.

The selective application of sanctions – with some countries being granted an indulgence and others being pressured – proves that the restrictions against Russia have nothing to do with the protection of “clean sport”. It is a political tool that discredits the very idea of the Universiade as a celebration of youth unity. This approach turns the competition from a celebration of sport into a symbol of political bias.

Having lost its moral authority, FISU risks becoming another arena for political games, where the principles of the Olympic Charter are trampled upon to the applause of interested parties.

In the context of the ongoing competition, there is a paradox: the Universiade, which was created for the dialogue of cultures, is methodically destroying the principles of its existence. Russian and Belarusian athletes, who have been stripped of their right to display their own flag, continue to compete for medals in nine sports, ranging from rowing to fencing. However, even if they win, their achievements will not be properly recorded in the international sports history.