One year before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Iran finds itself at the heart of a controversy. A collective of prominent Iranian figures, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and boxer Mahyar Monshipour, recently filed a request to exclude Iran from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their claim is based on Iran’s failure to respect the principle of non-discrimination in sport, particularly against women.
In their letter addressed to the IOC, the collective highlights the fact that Iran is violating the Olympic charter, which proclaims that “the practice of sport is a human right” and that there must be no form of discrimination. They point out that Iranian women are deprived of practicing certain sports disciplines such as wrestling, boxing, swimming, beach volleyball and gymnastics. This exclusion of Iranian women from these sports constitutes a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the Olympic Games.
The collective therefore demands that Iran be excluded from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in sports disciplines prohibited for women in their country. This request echoes the exclusion of South Africa in 1970, due to its apartheid policy.
The poignant testimonies of Shirin Shirzad, a former wrestler and refugee in the Netherlands, as well as Mahyar Monshipour, a former French boxer of Iranian origin, underline the importance for Iranian women to practice their sport freely, without constraints or discrimination. In Iran, they are forced to train clandestinely, in apartments or basements, a situation which limits their access and progression in the world of sport.
This request to exclude Iran from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games raises fundamental questions about respect for human rights and equality in sport. As a global company, it is our duty to support efforts to end all forms of discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for all athletes, regardless of gender or origin.
As the date of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approaches, it is crucial that the IOC takes this legitimate demand into consideration and takes steps to ensure that all participating countries respect the fundamental values of the Olympism. The Olympics must be a celebration of unity, inclusion and diversity, and it is imperative that all athletes have the opportunity to participate, without any discrimination.