Protests in Italy have targeted the Winter Olympics, with demonstrators raising concerns about political neutrality, human rights, and the environmental and social impacts of the Games. Activists have accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of double standards for allowing Israel to participate despite allegations of genocide and apartheid in Gaza, arguing that Russia faced stricter measures following its invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, Greenpeace has criticised the event’s sponsorship by fossil fuel giant Eni, while protesters have warned that the Olympics could exacerbate environmental degradation and social inequality in host regions.
The IOC has rejected these accusations, stating that the Games were planned with a strong focus on reducing their environmental footprint and supporting host regions in adapting to climate change. The IOC has previously stressed that the situations of Israel and Russia were not comparable as “[t]he relevant NOCs [National Olympic Committees] did not extend their area of jurisdiction over that of another NOC or outside their own area of jurisdiction.”