Overview
- EU Commissioner for youth, culture and sport Glenn Micallef said he will not attend the Venice Biennale after organizers reopened Russia’s pavilion and invited Russian officials.
- The European Commission told the Biennale it would seek to withdraw a €2 million EU grant unless the decision on the Russian pavilion is reversed.
- Italy’s culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, signaled he will skip the opening in protest of Russia’s participation.
- Micallef argued that flags, anthems and uniforms are not neutral, and he said allowing them amounts to a political choice that can serve propaganda.
- He warned that host countries face real security risks as sports and arts bodies move to readmit Russia, citing recent shifts by World Aquatics, the IPC and the IOC, and calls from FIFA’s president.