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All organisations, including those in the world of sport, are responsible for respecting human rights. Through preventing potential negative human rights impacts linked to major events, and providing adequate remedies for abuses that do occur, all organisations involved in delivering a mega-sporting event can better harness sport’s potential for good.

The lifecycle for a mega-sporting event also serves as a microcosm for the whole range of business and human rights issues. With the large amount of public investment associated with these events, and their impacts on local communities, mega-sporting events should be delivered to exemplary standards in all respects – especially with regard for human rights.

The capacity of mega-sporting events to promote human rights is enhanced by the fact that sport is inherently tied to sporting values and fair play, and sport’s history of providing a stage for progressive interventions in issues such as community relations, discrimination, gender equality and personal and social development.

This guide presents the lifecycle of a mega-sporting event, with specific elements of good practice at each stage that those involved in hosting the event should integrate into their planning, delivery and legacy in order to ensure a rights-compliant event.

Download the English version of the guide

Download the French version of te guide

Download the Japanese version of the guide

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made great progress in promoting gender equality in terms of balancing the total number of athletes participating at the Games, offering leadership development, advocacy participating at the Games, offering leadership development, advocacy and awareness campaigns, and more recently appointing more women to leadership roles within the administration and governance. The priority of gender equality is reaffirmed in the Olympic Agenda 2020, Recommendation 11.

Meanwhile, many Olympic Movement stakeholders have also implemented significant gender equality initiatives so that girls and women are being given greater access and the opportunity to participate in sport.
However, there are still many challenges which need to be addressed, and the pace of progress is slow, particularly in this fast-paced environment.
To address those challenges, the IOC Executive Board (EB) launched the IOC Gender Equality.

Review Project on 16 March 2017 with a mandate to “push gender equality globally” with “action oriented recommendations for change.”

The adoption and implementation of these project recommendations will fulfil the IOC’s obligation under the Olympic Charter “to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures.” It would also significantly contribute to the gender equality objectives of Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Promoting gender equality not only enhances the positive reputation of the IOC, it demonstrates corporate social responsibility to our commercial partners and it utilises the influence of the IOC to benefit society at large.
The positive impact of gender equality is well documented by social science research and business management studies.

Gender equality within the Olympic Movement creates opportunities for women to participate in public society and allows for women to contribute in roles of influence and decision-making responsibilities. It encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyles for women and girls. It encourages diversity of opinion, a key component of good governance and risk management.