IOC Has Banned Nation From Competing In Winter Olympics For Political Reasons

The International Olympic Committee have banned Greenland from competing at the Olympic Games for a political reason.

On February 6 the 2026 Winter Olympics got underway across in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries competing across 16 days.

Norway currently lead the medals table with 14, including seven gold medals, while hosts Italy have taken home the most medals overall with 17, six of which are gold, with team GB yet to win a single medal.

However, perhaps more so than the medals themselves, the biggest stories from the Winter Olympics this year have happened outside of events, including several political controversies.

Politics have always played a major role in the Olympic Games, with the IOC forced to deal with many difficult decisions, including one that led them to refusing to athletes from one nation to represent their homeland.

Team GB are yet to win a medal at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. (Image: Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images)

Heading into the Winter Olympic Games, one of the many ongoing political situations impacting the event is US President Donald Trump's threats take control of Greenland.

The 45th and 47th President believes the United States must acquire the world's largest island, with a population of 55,000, for national and global security reasons.

With such a small population, many would assume that Greenland are unable to compete in the Olympic Games, but that is not the case as there are two Greenlandic athletes competing here at Milano Cortina.

However, the IOC only recognises independent sovereign states and therefore doesn't see Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, as a nation that is eligible to compete at the Games.

Instead, Greenlandic athletes compete for the Commonwealth of Denmark, Greenland and Faroe Islands, under the Danish flag.

Ukaleq Slettemark is one of two athletes from Greenland competing at the Winter Olympics. (Image: FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT / AFP via Getty Images)

But for brother and sister, Ukaleq Slettemark and Sondre Slettemark, being able to use the Games as an opportunity to raise the profile of their home nation, particularly given it's current place in the political climate,

“So of course, if there’s only one Greenlandic person everyone knows, I’m happy to defend my country and show people who we are and where we are on the map,” Ukaleq told The Guardian after finishing 52nd in the women’s 15km biathlon event.

Nivi Olsen, Greenland's minister for sport, culture, education and church, was one of six Greenlanders attending the 2026 Winter Olympics to cheer the siblings on.

“Life is very difficult in Greenland. People are afraid. I think that Trump is crazy," Olsen claimed.

"I know it is a tough thing to say, but you can’t buy people, you can’t buy a country, there are people who live in Greenland, Greenland is our home, so we can’t understand Trump, we can’t understand how he can do what he does.

"But also we have hope. I can see the hope in people. And we stand together. And we fight together for our country.”