Tag: International Olympic Committee

IOC Cites ‘Human Rights’ as Reason for No Ban on Russian, Belarusian Athletes Competing in Asian Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Feb. 2 provided further details regarding its decision to consider allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus who have not actively supported the war in Ukraine to take part in international sports competitions in Asia. The IOC said earlier in January that it “welcomed and appreciated” an offer by the Olympic Council…


IOC Publishes Rights Strategy Months After Beijing Olympics

GENEVA—The IOC approved its human rights strategy on Friday, completing a years-long process months after the Beijing Olympics brought scrutiny on how sports engage with a host nation’s record on discrimination and civil liberties. The 50-page Olympic document guided by United Nations principles was also published one week after the outgoing U.N. human rights chief…


Canada Voted in Favour of Policy Banning Transgender Swimmers From Competing in Women’s Events

Canada has voted in favour of a policy that bans biological men from competing in women’s swimming events unless they had undergone gender transition before the age of 12. In a policy that went into effect on June 20, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) allows biological male swimmers to compete in women’s events only if…


No Commitment to Lift Russia Sanctions in Case of Peace Deal: IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not made a commitment to lift sanctions on Russia in case of a ceasefire or peace deal following its invasion of Ukraine, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday. The IOC said on Monday it was recommending that sports organizations do not allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian…


Tennis Star Peng Shuai Says Sex Assault Claim Sparked ‘Enormous Misunderstanding’

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said that her sexual assault claim against a top Chinese official on social media had sparked an “enormous misunderstanding,” in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe published on Monday. “I never said that anyone made me submit to a sexual assault,” the newspaper quoted her saying. “My private life…


Taiwan Changes Decision to Participate in Beijing Olympics Ceremonies After Getting ‘Several Notices’

Taiwan has acceded to the International Olympic Committee’s demands to have delegations take part in the Beijing Winter Olympics ceremonies, following “several notices” over the country’s withdrawal from the ceremonies, its Olympic Committee said on Monday. Taiwan had previously said that its 15-member athletic delegation, which includes athletes and coaches, will not be attending the…


Reasons Beijing Has the Olympics Again

The Beijing Winter Olympics open in just under two months and are the target of a diplomatic boycott by the United States, with other countries likely to follow suit. So how did Beijing land the Winter Olympics, so soon after it was host to the Summer Olympics in 2008? Doing so makes it the first…


Explainer: Why Beijing Has the Olympics Again

The Beijing Winter Olympics open in just under two months and are the target of a diplomatic boycott by the United States, with other countries likely to follow suit. So how did Beijing land the Winter Olympics so soon after it was host to the Summer Olympics in 2008? Doing so makes it the first…


Peng Shuai Scandal Is Yet Another Reason the West Should Boycott Beijing Olympics

Commentary The controversy revolving around Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai and the Western response has showcased yet again how rudderless the West is in the face of an assertive China. The Olympic Charter describes the philosophy of Olympism as a “philosophy of life” with the goal of creating a “way of life based on the…


IOC To Allow Trans Athletes to Compete in Women’s Sports Without Testosterone Suppression

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday introduced a new framework for transgender athletes, which allows trans-identified males to compete in women’s sports without having to undergo testosterone suppression or hormone therapy, raising concerns that some countries might “rig the system.” In a six-page document, the IOC outlined 10 principles with a stated aim to…