IOC urged to add human rights to Olympic host criteria
By Sam Rigby
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is being urged to make Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter a key criteria in the host selection process.
All Out, Athlete Ally and former Olympic champion Greg Louganis are campaigning for human rights to be a requirement of future host cities.
Principle 6 of the Olympic charter states: “Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”
Campaigners want to avoid the Olympic Games being awarded to another city like Sochi, where laws clearly contradict Principle 6.
Ukraine – where four anti-gay laws are currently being proposed – is currently being considered as host for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Andre Banks, co-founder and executive director of All Out, said: “IOC President Thomas Bach must learn the lesson from the anti-gay fiasco in Russia and ensure this never happens again.
“We are calling on Bach to make upholding the Olympic Principle of non-discrimination a binding condition for all future Olympic host applications. Already Ukraine, where 4 anti-gay laws have been proposed in Parliament is in the running to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.”
“Hosting the Olympic games is an honor,” said Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally. “It should only be bestowed upon countries that demonstrate a commitment to human rights and the principles of the Olympic Games.
“Future games cannot take place in countries with laws that undermine everything for which Olympic movement stands.”
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> Grindr use triples at Sochi despite anti-gay laws
> Blondie’s Debbie Harry refuses Sochi gig over gay rights