Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) decision to award Moscow the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships, calling it “unacceptable” and urging international sporting bodies to reverse the move, which he warned could normalize Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
In a statement on X on Monday, Oct. 26, Sybiha said the decision was unprecedented since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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“The decision by the International Weightlifting Federation to award Moscow the 2030 World Championships is unacceptable,” he wrote.
He warned that the move could pave the way for major international sporting events to return to Russia despite its continuing war against Ukraine.
“Russia continues to kill Ukrainians, including athletes. It is immoral to grant Moscow the privilege of hosting a major international sporting event while its aggression continues,” Sybiha said.
The foreign minister argued that Moscow could use the championships to portray itself as returning to normal international relations without ending its invasion or facing accountability.
“We must not allow the Kremlin to use international sport to claim recognition, legitimacy or a return to business as usual without ending its aggression or facing accountability,” he wrote.
Sybiha called on the IWF, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the wider international sporting community to overturn the decision.
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Ukraine demands new host selection
Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, said Ukrainian athletes would not compete at the 2030 World Championships if the tournament went ahead in Moscow.
“Ukrainian athletes will not go there,” Bidnyi told UNN.
The minister said Ukraine would use legal, political and diplomatic channels to challenge the decision and seek support from international partners.
According to Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv is preparing formal appeals to the IWF and IOC, demanding a new, transparent selection process for the championship’s host country.
Bidnyi also plans to raise the issue with European sports ministers, including representatives of EU member states and the Council of Europe.
He stressed that Ukraine generally favors continued participation in international competitions rather than leaving the sporting arena to Russian athletes, but said holding a world championship in Moscow presented an exceptional situation.
The minister warned that the Kremlin would use the event for propaganda and to portray Russia as internationally rehabilitated despite its continuing military campaign.
Moscow awarded major international event for first time since invasion
The IWF announced on Sunday, Oct. 25, that its Executive Board had selected Moscow to host the 2030 World Championships.
It is the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that an international federation overseeing an Olympic sport has awarded Russia an event of this level.
The federation also selected Ahmedabad, India, to host the 2029 senior World Championships, while Kosovo and Venezuela were awarded youth and junior tournaments in 2028.
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