[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 167 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 167

 Recognizing the International Olympic Committee for its work to bring 
  about understanding of individuals and different cultures, for its 
focus on protecting the civil rights of its participants, for its rules 
    of intolerance against discriminatory acts, and for its goal of 
                 promoting world peace through sports.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 20, 2001

    Mr. Kolbe (for himself, Mr. Davis of Florida, and Mr. Moran of 
  Virginia) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the International Olympic Committee for its work to bring 
  about understanding of individuals and different cultures, for its 
focus on protecting the civil rights of its participants, for its rules 
    of intolerance against discriminatory acts, and for its goal of 
                 promoting world peace through sports.

Whereas the United States has been actively engaged as a member of the 
        International Olympic Committee (in this resolution referred to as the 
        ``IOC''), which was formed in 1894 to implement the goals of modern 
        Olympism;
Whereas the Olympic Charter for the IOC contains fundamental principles of 
        modern Olympism, including--

    (1) ``Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a 
balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with 
culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the 
joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for 
universal fundamental ethical principles'';

    (2) ``The goal of Olympism is to place everywhere sport at the service 
of the harmonious development of man, with a view to encouraging the 
establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of 
human dignity'';

    (3) ``The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a 
peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised 
without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which 
requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and 
fair play''; and

    (4) ``The activity of the Olympic movement . . . reaches its peak with 
the bringing together of athletes of the world at the great sports 
festival, the Olympic Games'';

Whereas the IOC has adopted a Code of Ethics that recognizes the dignity of the 
        individual as one of its primary guarantees;
Whereas to safeguard the dignity of participants, the IOC's rules require 
        nondiscrimination on ``the basis of race, sex, ethnic origin, religion, 
        philosophical or political opinion, marital status or other grounds'';
Whereas the IOC's Code of Ethics specifically prohibits any ``practice 
        constituting any form of physical or mental injury'' and ``all forms of 
        harassment against participants, be it physical, mental, professional or 
        sexual'';
Whereas an integral part of the IOC's Olympic Charter, Code of Ethics, and rules 
        requires the following of strict guidelines in selecting a host city for 
        an Olympic Games;
Whereas included in the IOC's rules are comprehensive and precise selection 
        criteria and methods by which to assess a candidate's application;
Whereas the IOC's Evaluations Commission evaluates and compares, among the 
        candidates, 11 different areas of site analysis, including government 
        support and public opinion, critical infrastructure availability, 
        finance, security, and experience;
Whereas the IOC has made environmental conservation the third pillar of 
        Olympism, with the other pillars being sport and culture;
Whereas the IOC requires host cities to conduct an environmental impact 
        statement, consult with environmental organizations, and implement an 
        environmental action plan for the Olympic Games;
Whereas a primary goal of the IOC is world peace and understanding, and, in 
        pursuit of the goal, the IOC strives to maintain a separation of sports 
        from international politics;
Whereas the IOC's Olympic Charter, Code of Ethics, and rules consistently 
        address the IOC's quest to separate politics and sports;
Whereas Rule 9 of the IOC's Olympic Charter states that ``the Olympic Games are 
        competitions between athletes in individual or team events and not 
        between countries'';
Whereas new members of the IOC take an oath upon membership that avers in part 
        ``to comply with the Code of Ethics, to keep myself free from any 
        political or commercial influence'';
Whereas the IOC's Code of Ethics states that ``the Olympic parties shall neither 
        give nor accept instructions to vote or intervene in a given manner with 
        the organs of the IOC'';
Whereas the IOC is involved in humanitarian affairs through its involvement with 
        the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations 
        Development Programme, International Labour Organization, and the 
        International Committee of the Red Cross; and
Whereas following the issuance of the Report of the Special Bid Oversight 
        Commission, the ``Mitchell Commission'', both the United States Olympic 
        Committee and the IOC ratified a number of reforms regarding the 
        selection of Olympic Games host cities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Olympic Movement and Athlete 
Recognition Resolution''.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE.

    The Congress--
            (1) recognizes the International Olympic Committee for the 
        Committee's--
                    (A) work to bring about understanding of 
                individuals and different cultures;
                    (B) focus on protecting the civil rights of its 
                participants;
                    (C) rules of intolerance against discriminatory 
                acts; and
                    (D) goal of promoting world peace through sports;
            (2) encourages members of the International Olympic 
        Committee from the United States to abide by all rules of the 
        Committee when considering and voting for host cities for 
        future Olympic Games;
            (3) recognizes that any government action designating a 
        preference or displeasure with any Olympic Games candidate host 
        city is inconsistent with the International Olympic Committee's 
        Olympic Charter, Code of Ethics, and rules; and
            (4) endorses the concept of the Olympic Games being a 
        competition between athletes in individual or team events and 
        not between countries.
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