By: Elle Shi, Grade 7
International sports events are supposed to bring countries together through friendly competition and teamwork. However, recent wars and global conflicts have begun to affect national sports teams and their ability to attend major events such as the Olympic Games, the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and many more.
One of the most prominent examples is the war between Russia and Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many international sports organizations, like the International Olympic Committee, have banned Russian and Belarusian teams from competing under their national flags. Although some athletes from these countries have been allowed to compete as “neutral athletes,” in sports like track and field and ice skating, Russian teams have been suspended entirely. This policy has been used at events connected to the Olympics and other global competitions.
On the other side of the war, this conflict has also affected Ukrainian athletes. Many sports facilities in Ukraine have been damaged by bombings, and hundreds of athletes have been killed or forced to stop training because of the need for individuals to fight in the war. This has made it extremely difficult for Ukrainian teams to properly prepare for international tournaments. In addition, even at some events, Ukrainian athletes have protested or refused to compete against Russian athletes.
Other conflicts have also disrupted global sports. The war in Gaza has destroyed sports facilities and training centers, leaving athletes without places to practice. Meanwhile, international sports teams have sometimes needed to move games and postpone tournaments because of security and controversy concerns. Because of Operation Epic Fury, the entire national team has withdrawn from major competitions due to conflict. For example, Iran recently announced that it may not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup because of its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
Even global events such as the Winter Olympics and Paralympics have been significantly affected by these conflicts. Decisions about whether athletes from certain countries should be allowed to compete have caused debates and escalating controversy. While wars across countries mostly affect people politically, what people don’t normally see are the national sports teams that are losing opportunities to compete in global events. Sports are supposed to bring people together, but once political conflicts move in, it’s hard to find a middle ground where people can compete in a shared dream of friendly competition.
Work Cited:
Ellingworth, James. “War Disrupts Sports with Doubts over Soccer Games and F1 Races.” Yahoo! Sports, Associated Press, 2 Mar. 2026, sports.yahoo.com/articles/war-disrupts-sports-doubts-over-121424342.html. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Goder, Itay. “When War Hits the Sports Economy.” Ctech, 8 Mar. 2026, www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rgkc5g8rv. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Caption: The Iranian national sports team might not compete in the FIFA World Cup this year
