The Olympic Charter, the founding document of the global sports movement, was amended this Sunday, following a suggestion by the Board of Governors of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to better defend several fundamental principles of human rights.
The changes in the principles of Olympism number one and four were endorsed this Sunday by the 141st session of the IOC, which took place in Mumbai (Bombay), India, to establish “respect for internationally recognized human rights”, within “the principles ethics within the Olympic movement”.
The fourth point strengthens universal access to sport, with respect for the same human rights, a “huge step in the commitment to respect them within the movement,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
Another change brings the Charter closer to the guidelines on freedom of expression for athletes applied at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, allowing athletes, officials and other coaches to express themselves freely as long as they respect Olympic values .
The fortieth line of the Charter, on participation in the Games, now includes “freedom of expression”, after decades of ambiguous relations regarding political demonstrations or those related to social movements during these events and the search for neutrality .
These changes were agreed by the Executive Council in September and are now being formalized during the 141st session.
In Mumbai, the IOC noted the “growing politicization of sport,” in the voice of one of its members, former President of Croatia (2015-2020) Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.
Poland and Indonesia, candidates to host the 2036 Olympic Games, have denied athletes entry to the country, both in the case of Poland with Russian athletes at the 2023 European Games in Krakow, and of Indonesians with Israel at the World Cup under the 20 years, which the organization lost for this reason.
According to Grabar Kitarovic, “any violation of the Olympic Charter”, such as the refusal of athletes to practice, which does not necessarily reflect the actions of their countries and governments, must be considered “at all stages” of assessing a candidacy.
The Croat chairs the panel that manages and meets candidates and potential candidates to organize the Summer Olympics.
The decision on the 2036 Olympic Games “will not be made before 2026 or 2027”, in a new form of choice that forgoes public campaigns and divided votes, focusing on behind-the-scenes work in collaboration with the IOC, which chooses a preferred candidate until confirmed, as happened with Brisbane for 2032.
This deadline means that the next host city will be chosen outside the presidency of Thomas Bach, whose term of office expires in 2025, even though some executives have proposed amending the Charter for an additional term, something that finds opponents in several quarters, including the president of the United States. Portuguese Olympic Committee, José Manuel Constantino.
The 141st Session today also opened the door for a simultaneous choice for the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games.
Source: DN
