Monaco – The International Olympic Committee approved a new Olympic bidding process this month to make the system less costly and more flexible to attract future candidates—to including adding sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy.
Under Principle 6, the new clause states there should be no discrimination “of any kind, such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
Many human rights activists, leaders and athletes slammed the Sochi games and the Olympic organizers for turning a blind eye to a 2013 law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin that bans the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.” Public displays of affection on the streets, pride rallies, being gay or being suspected of being gay could potentially land citizens and tourists in prison. In return, many critics called for full-fledged boycott of the Olympic Games.
The move was part of President Thomas Bach’s 40-point “Olympic Agenda 2020″ reform package, which is the biggest shake-up in the organization in decades.
The votes come at a time when many countries have been scared off by the costs of hosting the Olympics, including the reported $51 billion associated with the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Several cities withdrew from the bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics, leaving only Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the running.
The system approved in December will make the process more of an “invitation” and allow prospective candidates to discuss their plans in advance with the IOC to tailor games to their own needs—and keep them affordable.
To cut down on costs and avoid white elephants, cities will be urged to make maximum use of existing and temporary venues.
Bach invited feedback from across the OIympic world over the past year, laying the groundwork for what should be approval on all the proposals.
Bach has moved swiftly since his election in September 2013 to put his stamp on the presidency and rally support for the most sweeping change since the IOC enacted a series of reforms in 1999 after the Salt Lake City bid scandal.
Under one of the proposals, the IOC would abolish the cap of 28 sports for the Summer Games and move to an “events-based” system that would allow new events to come in—a process that could clear the way for baseball and softball to be added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
