August 20th 2024.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics come to an end, all eyes are now on the upcoming Paralympic Games, which will kick off in just over a week. While the Paralympic athletes are putting the final touches on their preparations, there is a little-known rule that they should be aware of when it comes to showcasing their body art at the Games.
In recent years, it has become a tradition for Olympians to get tattoos of the iconic Olympic rings as a way to commemorate their participation in the Games. However, Paralympians who have the five rings tattooed on their bodies may face severe consequences if they fail to cover up their ink. This was the case for British swimmer Josef Craig, who was disqualified from the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games for simply having the Olympic rings tattoo on display at a competition.
Craig's disqualification brought attention to the rule against body advertising, which includes the Olympic rings. This rule is enforced by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), as it functions separately from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The two organizations have different logos, and therefore, athletes must adhere to the advertising policy of the specific Games they are competing in.
The IPC spokesperson explained that all teams are informed of this rule at a technical meeting before the competition begins. Therefore, it was not a surprise to Craig when he was disqualified, as he had been reminded of the rule multiple times. Despite initially being disqualified, Craig was able to compete in later events by covering his tattoo or painting over it with the Union Flag.
For those looking to watch the Paralympic Games, they will begin on Wednesday, August 28 and will take place in Paris, France. The opening ceremony will be held at Place de la Concorde, a major square in the city center. The Games will run for 11 days, with the closing ceremony taking place at the Stade de France on Sunday, September 8.
UK viewers will be able to tune into exclusive live coverage of the Games on Channel 4, with over 1,300 hours of scheduled coverage. The events will also be streamed live on Channel 4's official YouTube channel. Additionally, the BBC will be broadcasting a daily highlights show dedicated to the Paralympic Games.
According to reports, there will be a strict ban on tattoos featuring the Olympic rings at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. This comes after countless athletes proudly displayed their Olympic ring tattoos during the Summer Games in Tokyo. However, one athlete who will not be getting the iconic tattoo is Team GB's Keely Hodgkinson, who recently won gold in the 800m event.
In an interview ahead of her big win, Hodgkinson revealed that she has her own reasons for not wanting the Olympic rings tattooed on her body. She explained, "Personally, I don't like the Olympic rings. Like, I do like them but not on me." Despite being asked if she would consider getting the tattoo, Hodgkinson firmly stated that she would not, as she finds them "ugly" and not suitable for her. Instead, she opted for a more subtle tribute to the Games by getting the word "Tokyo" written in Japanese.
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