After IOC announcement on Belarus: Review similar cases and implement human rights strategy

Berlin, December 8, 2020. Maximilian Klein, Representative for International Sport Policy, comments on yesterday’s IOC announcements on Belarus as follows: “We hope that the sanctions will have the intended impact and that the announced measures of support will directly benefit the athletes. After all, it was the courage of the Belarusian athletes’ movement that lead to the IOC’s appropriate response. However, it cannot stop here: The Olympic Movement must now at least review similar cases and fully acknowledge its human rights responsibilities in general.

In the future, the IOC and the federations should take a proactive approach to the human rights risks that arise within the Olympic Movement’s sphere of influence. For this reason, the implementation of a human rights strategy based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is absolutely essential. This would hardly be understood as a political action by the IOC, but would merely mean the implementation of established standards in the field of human rights and good governance.”