August 18, 2026. OTTAWA, ON. Since the International Olympic Committee’s shameful decision to provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has written twice to the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) requesting clarity on the COC’s position.
The UCC has yet to receive a response to any of its communications to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Canadians deserve to know:
- what position the Canadian Olympic Committee took on the reinstatement of Russia by the IOC; and
- what role the COC President, Tricia Smith, played on the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission that recommended the reinstatement of Russia; and
- did Tricia Smith vote in support of the decision to reinstate Russia which continues to bomb innocent Ukrainian civilians on a daily basis.
On August 4, UCC National President Alexandra Chyczij wrote to Tricia Smith, President of the COC:
Given that in the Spring 2026 Economic Update, the Government of Canada committed $755 million over 5 years for Sport, which the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee called “an immensely satisfying outcome for the COC’s ongoing government relations work,” we believe the Canadian Olympic Committee ought to be responsive to Canadian taxpayers.
We note again that you are a member of the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission, which purportedly conducted “a thorough analysis” that led to the IOC’s decision to reinstate the Russian Olympic Committee. We renew our call for you to issue a public statement as to the COC’s position regarding the IOC’s ruling.
You can read the letter in full here:
August 4 – UCC letter to Canadian Olympic Committee
CALL TO ACTION
Please send an email to Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, copying the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport) and your local MP.
President Smith: tsmith@olympic.ca
Secretary Van Koeverden: Adam.vanKoeverden@parl.gc.ca
To find your local MP by postal code please click here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
TEMPLATE EMAIL:
Subject: COC’s silence on Russia’s reinstatement
For over a month the Canadian Olympic Committee has remained silent on the International Olympic Committee’s shameful reinstatement of Russia – while Russia wages a genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine. What is the COC’s position on this disgraceful act by the IOC?
I believe Canadians deserve to know what role the COC President, Tricia Smith, played on the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission that recommended the reinstatement of Russia; and whether Tricia Smith voted in support of the decision to reinstate Russia which continues to bomb innocent Ukrainian civilians on a daily basis.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
