In response to the fact that 35 countries have no women athletes registered for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, German women political officials have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bar countries from the Olympics that do not allow women participants. These women are part of an international movement, called "Atlanta Plus," to pressure the IOC to take action against countries that discriminate against women. In addition, the European Council, a policy body of the European Union, has decided to put the issue on their agenda.
The Olympic Games are supposed to be free from discrimination of any kind, according to the Olympic Charter. Yet some countries block women from participating, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Oman, and Yemen. Iran in particular openly bans women from participating in the Olympics, and has sponsored women-only Muslim games. The second women-only Muslim games will be held in 1997 in Pakistan with the help of the IOC. The Feminist Majority Foundation, part of the Atlanta + movement, circulated a petition to the IOC during Expo '96 for Women's Empowerment.
The IOC, which at first refused to deal with the issue at all, has now said they will hold a vote in July, during the Atlanta Olympics, on an amendment to the Olympic charter concerning "the principle of strict equality of men and women." The IOC will also be asked to approve a resolution calling for all members of the Olympic Movement to ensure that by the year 2000, at least 10% of the positions in Olympics decision-making bodies will be held by women.
One of the founders of Atlanta Plus, French attorney Linda Weil-Curiel, will hold a press conference in Atlanta on July 16. And Iranian-born Dr. Parvin Darabi is raising money to bring a championship woman athlete from Iran to the Atlanta Olympics to tell her story. "We would like to stage a demonstration during the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Olympics to condemn gender apartheid in Iran and other Islamic nations," said Darabi. If you would like to help fund the Iranian athlete's journey, please make your check payable to the Dr. Homa Darabi Foundation and send it to P.O. Box 11049, Truckee, CA 96162.
Please see our Web site. for a petition to the IOC.
