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International Olympic Committee passes recommendation supporting LGBT rights

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In a major step towards gender equality and inclusiveness, the International Olympic Committee has approved the 14th proposal of the Olympic Agenda 2020 which talks about non-discrimination with respect to sexual orientation.

At the 127th IOC session in Morocco in December 2014, 40 recommendations included in the Olympic Agenda 2020 were discussed and unanimously approved.

The 14th Proposal 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."


This proposal sends a clear message to all countries who hope to be Olympics hosts, that violation of human rights with respect to gender and sexual orientation shall not be tolerated. 

By clearly adding an anti-discrimination clause to its host city contract, it is hoped that countries who hope to host the Olympic Games refrain from adopting anti-LGBT laws that infringe upon the concept of equality and inclusiveness that the event inspires.


“Today is a great step forward for the Olympics, and particularly for the athletes, spectators, and residents of host countries who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Our hope is that potential host countries, like Kazakhstan and China, will understand that protecting the rights of sexual minorities is no longer something they can dodge. We call on the IOC to continue its efforts to support equality by including gender identity in Principle 6 as well,” Shawn Gaylord of the Human Rights First said in a statement.

The move assumes significance after the controversy generated at the 2014 Winter Olympics​ at Sochi where several LGBT activists protested against Russia's 'anti-gay propaganda' laws, some even facing arrest. 

The Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations will be fully applied in the bid process for the Olympic Games 2024, which opens on 15 January 2015. 

Meanwhile, the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles on July 25 to August 2, 2015. It will be the first Special Olympics World Summer Games held in the United States in 16 years.

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