UN want Olympics ‘peace initiative’ to bring end to ‘horrendous suffering’ in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and more
5 months, 2 weeks ago

UN want Olympics ‘peace initiative’ to bring end to ‘horrendous suffering’ in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and more

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged countries around the world to stop armed conflict as part of the Olympic truce, with the Paris 2024Olympics set to open later on Friday. Guterres met International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and said the Games were a chance for peace. “In a moment like this it is important to say that the first recorded, in history, real peace initiative was the Olympic truce.” During the Olympics in ancient Greece all conflicts ceased for the duration of the Games to allow for the competitions to go ahead. open image in gallery Valerie Rose Tarazi of Team Palestine and IOC President Thomas Bach These include a Palestinian team, which while not a full member of the United Nations, has an official national Olympic Committee, as well as athletes from Russia and Belarus, who will compete as neutrals without a flag or emblem following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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History of this topic

Athletes from conflict zones outside the spotlight find hope at the 2024 Olympics
5 months ago

Athletes from conflict zones outside the spotlight find hope at the 2024 Olympics

Associated Press  

PARIS — When they compete at the Paris Games, they’re just athletes at their peak. This situation has significantly diminished youth engagement in sports,” said Akram Al-Ahjri, international relations manager of Yemen’s Olympic committee. “We are also sending messages of love, peace, friendship, solidarity,” said the administrator of Yemen’s Olympics delegation, Shaif Abdullah Al Shawafi. “Competing with top athletes pushes …

As conflicts far and wide shake the planet, can the Olympics unite the world?
5 months, 1 week ago

As conflicts far and wide shake the planet, can the Olympics unite the world?

Associated Press  

PARIS — More than 100 conflicts fester around the world. Now we are part of an event that unites the world in peace,’” International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said to athletes at the opening ceremony. He did temper his usual robust optimism with an acknowledgment that they lived in “a world torn apart by wars and conflicts.” It’s a …

Refugee athletes want more of them to compete at the Olympics as migration takes global focus
5 months, 1 week ago

Refugee athletes want more of them to compete at the Olympics as migration takes global focus

Associated Press  

PARIS — The first time Perina Lokure Nakang began to run for sport, she ran 9 miles along the road near her refugee camp in northwestern Kenya. Now, the 21-year-old South Sudanese runner is competing in the Paris Olympics, among many of the 37 athletes on the Olympic refugee team who are pushing to see more refugees like her able …

Olympic Games signal unity of mankind
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Olympic Games signal unity of mankind

China Daily  

Athletes of China, Chile, Central African Republic, Canada and Cameroon are seen on their boat at Pont Iena in the river Seine during the opening ceremony. As the birthplace of the International Olympic Committee, Paris has hosted two Olympics, in 1900 and 1924, and now, a whole century later, the Olympic flame is lit again in this ancient and beautiful …

Palestinian Olympic team greeted with cheers and gifts in Paris
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Palestinian Olympic team greeted with cheers and gifts in Paris

Associated Press  

PARIS — Palestinian Olympic athletes were greeted with a roar of a crowd and gifts of food and roses as they arrived in Paris on Thursday, ready to represent war–torn Gaza and the rest of the territories on a global stage. Athletes, French supporters and politicians in the crowd urged the European nation to recognize a Palestinian state, while others …

For Palestinian athletes, the Olympics is about more than sports
5 months, 2 weeks ago

For Palestinian athletes, the Olympics is about more than sports

Associated Press  

PARIS — Most of the athletes representing the Palestinian territories at the Paris Olympics were born elsewhere — Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Germany, Chile and the United States — yet they care deeply about the politics of their parents’ and grandparents’ homeland. We are not a sports country yet.” The Palestinian diaspora has always played an important role at the Olympics …

For Palestinian athletes, the Olympics is about more than sports
5 months, 2 weeks ago

For Palestinian athletes, the Olympics is about more than sports

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We are not a sports country yet.” The Palestinian …

Amid calls for an Olympic ban, Israeli athletes are determined to succeed in Paris
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Amid calls for an Olympic ban, Israeli athletes are determined to succeed in Paris

LA Times  

Israel is sending 88 athletes to Paris this month, the second-largest Olympic team in the country’s history. “The best way to deal with such things is to win, to succeed,” Miki Zohar, Israeli’s minister for culture and sports, said at a news conference in Tel Aviv last month. Despite the security concerns, this Israeli Olympic team has a chance to …

The spotlight should be on Palestine at the Paris Olympics
5 months, 4 weeks ago

The spotlight should be on Palestine at the Paris Olympics

Al Jazeera  

With the calls for Israel’s exclusion over the Gaza war falling on deaf ears, it is our responsibility to ensure Palestine is not forgotten. For Palestinians trying to survive Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, however, the 2024 Olympic Games will be nothing but another confirmation of the world’s apparent indifference to their suffering. According to the Olympic Charter, the games …

Olympics: Interplay of sports, geopolitics and diplomacy
7 months, 1 week ago

Olympics: Interplay of sports, geopolitics and diplomacy

Hindustan Times  

The Olympic Games are the epitome of international sporting events, representing not only the pinnacle of athletic achievement but also a complex interaction of sportsmanship, national pride, geopolitical manoeuvring, and diplomatic engagement. For example, China's significant investment in its sports programmes was evident in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where it topped the medal tally for the first time. The iconic …

Israel’s Olympic status not in question says IOC president Bach amid frustration with Russia
10 months ago

Israel’s Olympic status not in question says IOC president Bach amid frustration with Russia

Associated Press  

GENEVA — Israel faces no threat to its Olympic status ahead of the Paris Games despite the conflict in Gaza, IOC president Thomas Bach confirmed Wednesday. Asked Wednesday about Israel teams and athletes not taking part in Paris, the International Olympic Committee president said: “No, there is no question about this.” The safety in France of the Israeli team — …

Russia and IOC clash at the UN before member states pass Olympic Truce for Paris Games
1 year, 1 month ago

Russia and IOC clash at the UN before member states pass Olympic Truce for Paris Games

Associated Press  

Russia clashed with the International Olympic Committee on the floor of the United Nations on Tuesday before 118 member states voted to adopt a traditional truce around the 2024 Paris Summer Games. Such conditions are “completely unacceptable,” Russian diplomat Maria Zabolotskaya said Tuesday speaking immediately before Bach in the Olympic Truce debate at the UN in New York. Bach recalled …

IOC cites support from 120 non-aligned nations to let Russians try to compete at Paris Olympics
1 year, 6 months ago

IOC cites support from 120 non-aligned nations to let Russians try to compete at Paris Olympics

The Hindu  

The International Olympic Committee cited support from 120 nations on Friday for its moves toward letting some Russian and Belarusian athletes qualify for the Paris Olympics. The declaration by the Azerbaijan-chaired Non-Aligned Movement of nations said it “would be a strong symbol of unity of humanity” if all 206 national Olympic teams compete in Paris next year. READ | IOC …

Olympic leader Bach criticizes Ukraine for blocking athletes from some Paris Games qualifiers
1 year, 6 months ago

Olympic leader Bach criticizes Ukraine for blocking athletes from some Paris Games qualifiers

Associated Press  

GENEVA — IOC president Thomas Bach criticized the Ukrainian government on Thursday for blocking some athletes from qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympics that also included Russians and Belarusians. “It is hard to understand why the Ukrainian government is depriving their own athletes from their chance to qualify” for Paris, Bach said in a keynote speech to an International …

Olympic sports leaders meet amid uncertainty over Russians competing at 2024 Paris Games
1 year, 7 months ago

Olympic sports leaders meet amid uncertainty over Russians competing at 2024 Paris Games

The Hindu  

Olympic sports bodies meet Wednesday amid ongoing uncertainty about if and how Russian athletes could return to their competitions ahead of the 2024 Paris Games. The International Olympic Committee in March advised that some Russians and Belarusians could return in individual events but not team sports, if they had not actively supported the war in Ukraine, and are not contracted …

U.N. expert advising Olympics Committee gives views on Russia participating at Olympics
1 year, 9 months ago

U.N. expert advising Olympics Committee gives views on Russia participating at Olympics

The Hindu  

Russian athletes who have actively served in the military invasion of Ukraine should be allowed to return to international sports if they did not take part in war crimes, according to a United Nations expert advising the International Olympic Committee. The U.N. special rapporteur for cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki, said late on March 26 only Russian military members implicated in …

UN expert advising IOC gives views on Russians at Olympics
1 year, 9 months ago

UN expert advising IOC gives views on Russians at Olympics

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The U.N. special rapporteur for cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki, …

'Not up to Governments to Decide Who Can Take Part', Says IOC Chief Thomas Bach
1 year, 10 months ago

'Not up to Governments to Decide Who Can Take Part', Says IOC Chief Thomas Bach

News 18  

Olympic chief Thomas Bach said Saturday that he shared the “grief and human suffering” of Ukrainian athletes, stressing that if it was not up to individual governments to decide who takes part in international sporting competition. Ukrainian athletes, Bach said on the sidelines of the World Ski Championships, “know how much we share their grief, their human suffering and all …

Olympic echoes of boycott era as Ukraine vs IOC intensifies
1 year, 11 months ago

Olympic echoes of boycott era as Ukraine vs IOC intensifies

Associated Press  

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — A contest that could define the 2024 Paris Olympics is playing out 18 months before medals are awarded. Bach said in September 2021 when issuing the ban that taking part in the Olympics can “show to the world how it could look like if everybody would respect the same rules, if everybody would live together peacefully without …

IOC publishes rights strategy months after Beijing Olympics
2 years, 4 months ago

IOC publishes rights strategy months after Beijing Olympics

Associated Press  

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 Michelle Bachelet released …

Russia invasion upends Olympic 'neutrality' — if it existed
2 years, 9 months ago

Russia invasion upends Olympic 'neutrality' — if it existed

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine three weeks ago exposed …

Speak out against 'genocide games': Activists urge athletes participating in Beijing Olympics
2 years, 11 months ago

Speak out against 'genocide games': Activists urge athletes participating in Beijing Olympics

Firstpost  

Over a million Uyghurs have been confined in reeducation camps in Xinjiang region of China. Activists say China is trying to whitewash this repression of Uyghurs, referred as ‘genocide’ by US, through the Games Beijing: Human rights activists issued a call to action against the Beijing Olympics on Friday, imploring athletes and sponsors to speak out against what they call …

IOC says it respects U.S. decision on Beijing 2022 Games
3 years, 1 month ago

IOC says it respects U.S. decision on Beijing 2022 Games

The Hindu  

The International Olympic Committee said it respected the United States' government decision for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in February over China's human rights record. "We always ask for as much respect as possible and least possible interference from the political world," said Juan Antonio Samaranch, the IOC's coordination commission chief for the Beijing Olympics, on …

IOC 'respects' US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics
3 years, 1 month ago

IOC 'respects' US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

Firstpost  

The IOC said the US government’s announcement had made it “clear that the Olympic Games and the participation of the athletes are beyond politics and we welcome this”. Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee said on Monday it respected the US government’s announcement of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. “The support for the athletes and the …

UN urges truce during winter Olympics in Beijing in February
3 years, 1 month ago

UN urges truce during winter Olympics in Beijing in February

The Hindu  

The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday urged all nations to observe a truce during the Beijing Winter Olympics starting in February, saying a halt to conflicts during one of the world’s premiere sporting events can be “a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation.” A resolution adopted by consensus by the 193-nation world body recalled the ancient Greek tradition of …

UN urges truce during winter Olympics in Beijing in February
3 years, 1 month ago

UN urges truce during winter Olympics in Beijing in February

Associated Press  

United Nations — The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday urged all nations to observe a truce during the Beijing Winter Olympics starting in February, saying a halt to conflicts during one of the world’s premiere sporting events can be “a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation.” A resolution adopted by consensus by the 193-nation world body recalled the ancient …

Tokyo 2020: Solemn appeal by United Nations to observe Olympic Truce
3 years, 6 months ago

Tokyo 2020: Solemn appeal by United Nations to observe Olympic Truce

The Hindu  

The United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir on Friday made a solemn appeal to the Member States for the observance of the Olympic Truce at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. For the second time, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team will participate under the Olympic flag in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, acting as a powerful symbol of inclusion and our …

Global athletes group calls for postponement of Olympics
4 years, 9 months ago

Global athletes group calls for postponement of Olympics

The Hindu  

A worldwide group representing Olympic hopefuls is calling on the IOC to postpone the Tokyo Olympics until the coronavirus pandemic is under control. This show of solidarity among Olympic hopefuls adds to the dozens of individual athletes who have come out against the IOC’s current stance, which is to start the games as scheduled on July 24. "It’s bizarre the …

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