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Get the latest news and updates from our partners on the human rights issues in and around the world of sport.
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Olympics: Revised Host City Contract to Include Human Rights
The move by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to incorporate human rights principles in its Host City Contract in accordance with recommendations made by a coalition of rights, athletes’ and transparency organisations could help prevent major abuses by future Olympic hosts, the Sports and Rights Alliance said today. The revised Host City Contract was finalised […]
Requirements for Human Rights, Labour Rights, Anti-Corruption and Stakeholder Involvement for Olympic and Paralympic Games
Policies and practices adopted by the IOC have the potential to prevent, mitigate, report on and respond appropriately to the full spectrum of human rights and good governance risks posed before, during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ireland’s Horror Week in Sport: Perpetrators and Victims of the Unolympic Games
If you think FIFA is a mess, then take a look at the Olympic Council of Ireland and the International Boxing Association (AIBA). Just today the Brazilian police arrested Patrick Hickey, head of the Irish and European Olympic committees over illegal Olympic ticket sales. AIBA is in the firing line for allegations over bought judges […]
FIFA: Another Own Goal?
On 13 May at the first FIFA Congress since he was elected president of football’s world governing body, Gianni Infantino claimed FIFA was over its corruption crisis. He also announced the appointment of someone outside football as the new general secretary, Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura from Senegal, a former businesswoman who has worked in various senior posts at the […]
“For the Game. For the World.” FIFA and Human Rights
In December 2015, FIFA asked John G. Ruggie to develop recommendations on what it means for FIFA to embed respect for human rights across its global operations. The authoritative standard for doing so is the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (“UNGPs”), endorsed by the UN in June 2011, of which he […]
Global Corruption Report: Sport
Sport is a global phenomenon engaging billions of people and generating annual revenues of more than US$145 billion. Problems in the governance of sports organisations, the fixing of matches and the staging of major sporting events have spurred action on many fronts. Attempts to stop corruption in sport, however, are still at an early stage. […]
New ITUC Report “Qatar: Profit and Loss” Workers Paying with Lives as Companies Extract Billions in Profit
A new report from the International Trade Union Confederation estimates that $15 billion profit will be made by companies working in Qatar on infrastructure for the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup using up to 1.8 million migrant workers who are modern day slaves. The report released on International Migrants Day is critical of Qatar for […]
The IOC’s human rights responsibilities and 2022 Olympics Host City Contracts
The Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), committed to upholding human rights, labour rights, children’s rights, anti-corruption and sustainability standards and principles in sport, particularly in the context of Major Sporting Events (MSEs), wishes to draw the attention of the IOC to its responsibility to respect human rights in the preparations, hosting and staging of an Olympic event.
Barcelona Football Club: ITUC Appeals to Voting Members and Fans to Reject Qatar Airways Deal
The ITUC has called on FC Barcelona “socis” (voting members) and fans to end the club’s Qatar Airways sponsorship, saying that the airline is the very worst sponsor for a club with a 100-year tradition of democracy and universality. The appeal comes as an election contest for the club’s Presidency hinges on candidates’ opposition to […]
BRAZIL: 2016 Summer Olympics
In 2016, the Summer Olympics are held in Brazil. This requires a great effort: building sports facilities, hotels and infrastructure. A lot needs to be done, also in the field of human rights. For example to prevent excessive police force against peaceful demonstrators. In Brazil, demonstrators are arbitrarily detained and labelled as criminals by charging […]
RUSSIA: 2018 World Cup Football
The human rights situation in Russia is abysmal. Since 2012, numerous new laws further suppress the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Journalists, human rights activists, lawyers, gays and artists are thwarted in many ways to prevent them from voicing any criticism. The ‘law on foreign agents’ paralyzes civil society. Ahead of the […]
SOUTH KOREA: 2018 Winter Olympics
In 2018, the Winter Olympics are being held in South Korea. Some victories are desired for human rights in that country. The rights of migrant workers are severely violated in South Korea. They have very long working hours and are underpaid. They don’t get any days off or holidays and they live in bad housing […]