International Olympic Committee will unveil new flag at London closing ceremony for Russia and Brazil games to push LGBT sport.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to alter the Olympic flag for four years in a global drive to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.
Gay Star News can exclusively reveal today (1 April) that a pink ring will be added to the Olympic flag to symbolize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex sportspeople.
The new flag will be unveiled at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 games and will be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It will also fly during the Paralympic Games in both countries.
An IOC source told Gay Star News: ‘The idea has been in the pipeline for the last couple of years.
‘The executive board [which runs the Olympics] hoped to have it all confirmed in time for the 2012 London games, but the merchandise had already been produced and it was just too late.
‘But now they are pressing ahead. The board now realize the level of homophobia and transphobia in sport is a major issue and know they won’t be able to retain credibility unless they do something dramatic to tackle it.
‘The executive have been persuaded they have to show leadership and other sporting bodies, clubs, managers and individuals will only follow if we lead.’
The five Olympic rings currently on the flag – blue, black, red, yellow and green – represent the five continents involved in the games.
The design dates from 1912 and the Olympic organizers apparently feel the temporary addition of a pink ring is an appropriate way to celebrate the 100th anniversary.
The IOC insider said: ‘What better way to celebrate the flag’s centenary than to show the way sport has to modernize if it’s truly going to embrace everyone in the world?’
Earlier this week, lesbian former jockey and BBC Sports presenter Clare Balding told guests at the Stonewall Equality Dinner that she believed the London 2012 Olympics would be the most gay-friendly to date.
But the IOC may have been influenced by the apparent homophobia of authorities in Russia, who are hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics.
They have banned the planned LGBT Pride House festival from happening in Sochi with the judge in the case ruling that any gay event of that kind could ‘undermine the sovereignty and the territorial integrity’ of Russia itself.
Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com
Gay Star News can exclusively reveal today (1 April) that a pink ring will be added to the Olympic flag to symbolize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex sportspeople.
The new flag will be unveiled at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 games and will be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It will also fly during the Paralympic Games in both countries.
An IOC source told Gay Star News: ‘The idea has been in the pipeline for the last couple of years.
‘The executive board [which runs the Olympics] hoped to have it all confirmed in time for the 2012 London games, but the merchandise had already been produced and it was just too late.
‘But now they are pressing ahead. The board now realize the level of homophobia and transphobia in sport is a major issue and know they won’t be able to retain credibility unless they do something dramatic to tackle it.
‘The executive have been persuaded they have to show leadership and other sporting bodies, clubs, managers and individuals will only follow if we lead.’
The five Olympic rings currently on the flag – blue, black, red, yellow and green – represent the five continents involved in the games.
The design dates from 1912 and the Olympic organizers apparently feel the temporary addition of a pink ring is an appropriate way to celebrate the 100th anniversary.
The IOC insider said: ‘What better way to celebrate the flag’s centenary than to show the way sport has to modernize if it’s truly going to embrace everyone in the world?’
Earlier this week, lesbian former jockey and BBC Sports presenter Clare Balding told guests at the Stonewall Equality Dinner that she believed the London 2012 Olympics would be the most gay-friendly to date.
But the IOC may have been influenced by the apparent homophobia of authorities in Russia, who are hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics.
They have banned the planned LGBT Pride House festival from happening in Sochi with the judge in the case ruling that any gay event of that kind could ‘undermine the sovereignty and the territorial integrity’ of Russia itself.
Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com
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