La LDIF prépare les JO de 2012 de Londres

La LDIF, membre depuis 2010 de la Clef, prépare les JO de 2012 de Londres en faisant des propositions au monde Olympique. Dans la lettre jointe adressée au président du CIO, la LDIF demande que ces JO, qui pour la première fois vont accueillir la boxe féminine, soient exemplaires de l'égalité entre les hommes et les femmes. Pour la LDIF propose un geste symbolique fort (remise de la médaille d'or à la marathonienne comme au marathonien par le président du CIO) et suspension des CNO qui ne respectent pas la Charte Olympique en ce qui concerne les femmes"

Paris, le 12 novembre 2010

Objet : égalité hommes/femmes, JO de Londres 2012


Monsieur le Président

Le Comité International Olympique joue un rôle majeur dans le développement du sport féminin et pour sa visibilité dans les médias.

Beaucoup reste cependant à faire dans ce domaine.

Nous vous adressons cette lettre dans la perspective des Jeux Olympiques de Londres, afin de vous demander de prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires pour que ces Jeux symbolisent l’égalité entre les hommes et les femmes.

Parmi ces mesures, une action exemplaire consisterait, à ce que vous-même, en tant que Président du CIO, remettiez la médaille d’or du Marathon, cette course mythique au cœur de l’Olympisme, non seulement au vainqueur de l’épreuve masculine, mais aussi à celle qui aura remporté la course féminine. Ce serait une façon d’affirmer votre volonté d’aller vers la parité mais aussi de rendre hommage à la première sportive qui en 1896, aux JO d’Athènes, eut l’audace de vouloir s’inscrire au Marathon. Bien que cela lui fut refusé, elle courut tout de même la distance, seule et sans public. Elle s’appelait Stamata Revithi.

En outre, nous relevons la nécessité d’une application stricte de la Charte Olympique par les instances olympiques dont c’est le devoir. Ce qui implique la suspension des CN0 qui, s’agissant des femmes, n’assurent pas leur participation aux Jeux et ne respectent pas la règle commune de la neutralité du sport et de sa portée universelle

La résolution que vous trouverez ci-jointe, reprend ces différentes propositions.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Président l’expression de toute notre considération,

La présidente
Annie Sugier

Ci-jointe : la résolution


English version

Paris, 12 November 2010

Reference: Gender equality, London Olympics 2012


Mr. President:

The International Olympic Committee plays a major role in developing women’s sports and in media visibility of this important aspect.

As you know, much remains yet to be done in this area.

We are writing you preparatory to the London Olympic Games, in order to ask you to take all necessary measures for these Games to symbolise true gender equality.

Among these measures, one exemplary step would be for you, as IOC President, to award the Gold Marathon Medal, that mythical race at the origin of Olympism, not only to the man who wins the men’s race, but also to the woman who wins the women’s race. This would be an impressive way of asserting your will to work towards parity as well as to render homage to the first sportswoman who, in 1896, at the Athens Olympics, had the audacity to register for the Marathon. Although this was not granted, she ran the distance just the same, alone and with no audience. Her name was Stamata Revithi.

Beyond this, we note the need for a firm application of the Olympic Charter by all Olympic bodies whose duty this is. This means suspending those NOC who, where women are concerned, either do not allow them to participate at all or do not respect the common ruling of neutrality in sports and in their universal character.

The resolution that I have the honour of sending you herein takes up these several proposals.

Very sincerely and respectfully yours,

The President
Annie Sugier

In annex: the resolution


ANNEX
Resolution for the 2012 London Olympic Games


Great Britain has played an important role in promoting equality between men and women in sports. The upcoming London Olympics are an opportunity to strongly reaffirm the universal values of the Olympic Charter and that in sports there is only one rule for all, the Olympic Charter


1. The Olympic Charter states that:

By their oath the members of the Olympic Movement become ambassadors of the Olympic Values regardless of their own cultural values,
All forms of discrimination towards a country or a person founded on considerations of race, religion, politics, sex or any other are incompatible,
The promotion of women in sports at all levels and structures, should be supported with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women,
No political, religious or racial manifestations or propaganda are allowed in any of the Olympic Sites.

Clearly the latter (rule Number 51) forbids any distinctive sign or attire that might show a political or religious opinion (cf. Speech of the IOC President reported in French newspaper “le Monde” dated April 10, 2008).


2. Recent breaches of the Olympic Charter:


At the 2008 Beijing Games

Three delegations had no women athletes (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait)
Fourteen delegations presented women wearing an Islamic headscarf


At the first Olympic Youth Games in Singapore, 2010):

At least one female football team, the Iranian team, was composed of players dressed from head to toe in the Islamic costume. This team had at first been rejected by FIFA for non-respect of regular sportswear. Under the pressure of the Iranian NOC, FIFA finally gave in, thus breaking its own rule.
Saudi Arabia’s equestrian, Dalam Rushdi H Malhas, made history by becoming the first female competitor to ever come from this country in the Olympics. The 16-years old athlete participated in the competition at her own expense and was not part of the official youth team. “That’s because Saudi Arabia has, until now, only allowed male competitors to participate at eh Olympics or nay other major event”(see Arab news and Yahoo SEA, August 24, 2010). She won a bronze medal in the Equestrian jumping Individuals final, where female and male athletes compete together. Malhas who has been riding since she was four years old at her family’s private stable said “I hope that this will be a door that will open many other possibilities for all other Saudi girls”.

3. The same rule for all must be respected in order to maintain the neutrality and the universal nature of sports, as well as equality of treatment between men and women:

Since the next Games will take place in London we demand that the European bodies among which the NOCs :

take a firm stand on the application of the Olympic Charter, especially regarding women’s participation and rule number 51,
support the request that the IOC President should reward not only the male but also the female winner of the marathon with the Gold Medal during the same ceremony,
support the idea that the marathon be run by men and women together

Such measures would set female and male athletes on equal footing and would serve one of the social purposes of sports, i.e. to provide role models for the youth of both sexes.