IOC rejects Greenland and Faroe Islands recognition

The International Olympic Committee has rejected a request from Denmark’s Folketing to allow athletes from Greenland and the Faroe Islands to compete under their own flags at the Olympics, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

The request was denied outright, the Associated Press reported earlier this week after receiving a statement from the IOC. Neither Greenland nor the Faroe Islands have recognized Olympic committees because they do not meet IOC requirements, which stipulate that only “an independent state recognized by the international community” can have an approved committee.

The IOC has strictly followed this policy since 1996 and has no plans to change it, the organization told AP.

“This position has been explained and communicated very clearly to the concerned parties on multiple occasions in recent years,” the IOC stated.

Greenlandic and Faroese athletes currently compete under the Danish flag as part of the Danish Sports Federation. However, Folketing President Søren Gade argued that the territories have strong, independent sporting identities and that the request was made to support athletes who dream of competing on the international stage under their own flags.

Hans Natorp, chair of the Danish Sports Federation, has previously stated his support for Greenland and the Faroe Islands establishing their own Olympic committees.