“While today’s request to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the Olympic Charter remains vital to sport and the founding principals of the Olympic movement, the message of acceptance and diversity must be heard louder then ever from the IOC and leaders throughout the world for our athletes and Russian brothers and sisters,” said David McFarland, Founder & CEO of UESE.
Fundamental Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter currently states that, “Any form of discrimination with regards to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement. UESE and its international partners believe that the criteria of “sexual orientation and gender identity” should be included alongside race, religion, politics, and gender in the Olympic Charter.
Rogge recently commented on the growing call about amending the Olympic Charter. “The Olympic charter is clear. A sport is a human right and it should be available to all, regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation," Rogge said at the IOC Executive Committee's August 9th meeting in Moscow.
"We were encouraged by IOC President Jacques Rogge's comments," noted McFarland. “Unfortunately, the Olympic Charter does not say this. Principle 6 of the Charter includes a variety of criteria for which discrimination is prohibited in the Olympic movement, but sexual orientation and gender identity are not yet among them."
Additionally, UESE and its partner organizations support the idea that the IOC should consider a country’s human rights record and laws when allowing nation’s to bid as a host city. UESE proposed to the IOC that countries that discriminate against persons on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other criteria, should not be qualified to bid for or host Olympic Games.
Lastly, UESE and its partners requested that the IOC should require the presence of a community-based Pride House at all Olympic Games to foster the above goals and encourage dialogue and exchange on issues of discrimination and visibility for LGBT athletes and the LGBT sport movement.
UESE will be announcing new program and strategy initiatives in the coming weeks as it continues to address equality in sport for LGBT athletes and continue its commitment to work with the International Olympic Committee and other sport organizations to address the critical issues surrounding the Sochi Winter Olympics and future Olympics for LGBT people and our allies.
