COPENHAGEN — The Danish parliament formally requested on July 1, 2026, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognize Greenland and the Faroe Islands as independent Olympic teams. The parliament published a letter urging the IOC to recognize these entities as "independent National Olympic Committees and to participate in the Olympic Games under their own flags."

The Danish parliament presidium sent the letter to the IOC on June 18, 2026. The parliament stated that the letter would "reflect a clear and current political commitment by Denmark to support enhanced and more equal international participation for both the Faroe Islands and Greenland." Two biathletes from Greenland competed for Denmark at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February 2026.

This request follows a similar Olympic proposal made in 2006. The IOC's current policy, established in 1996, is to recognize only independent states. The Olympic Charter defines "country" as "an independent state recognized by the international community."

The IOC recognized Kosovo as an independent state in 2014 and South Sudan in 2015. The organization currently recognizes 206 national Olympic bodies, which is 13 more than the number of member states in the United Nations. The Faroe Islands has competed in qualifying games for international soccer tournaments since the 1992 European Championship and the 1994 World Cup.

Weeks before the July 1, 2026, request, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen formed a new coalition government. Frederiksen previously pledged support for Greenland following U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in acquiring the island.