Paralympians Might Be Barred From Competing If They Flash Olympic Ring Tattoos

Photo 25237440 © Lukas Blazek | Dreamstime.com

As athletes gear up for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, a little-known rule about tattoos has swum up to the surface.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has a strict policy against athletes displaying Olympic rings designs and various sporting event emblems during competitions. This regulation, which falls under the umbrella of body advertising, aims to maintain the neutrality of the Paralympic Games and prevent any form of endorsement that could compromise their integrity.

While many Olympians proudly sport Olympic ring tattoos as badges of honor, Paralympians must take care to conceal these inkings during events. The rule came into sharp focus in 2016 when British swimmer Josef Craig faced disqualification from the IPC Swimming European Championships for failing to cover his Olympic rings tattoo. Despite winning his heat, Craig’s visible body art led to his removal from the event.

The IPC has maintained that all teams are informed of the advertising policy before competitions. And participants don’t have to remove the tattoos or stop trying out for the Games altogether; they just need to conceal the designs, be it with tape, bandages, or makeup.

The Paralympic Games logo. Photo 60552290 © Ac Manley | Dreamstime.com

It’s crucial to note that this rule doesn’t automatically disqualify athletes from all events. In Craig’s case, he was allowed to continue participating in subsequent races as long as he covered the tattoo.

An IPC spokesperson explained then that “body advertising… in any way” isn’t allowed at the Paralympics, including displays of the Olympic rings. They reiterated that Craig was only banned because he did not hide the inked logo.

And although the Paralympics and Olympics are often viewed in tandem, they are run by separate organizations with distinct sets of rules. The International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee operate independently, each with its own regulations and logos.

Similarly, the Olympics have their own stringent guidelines about brand identification, including tattoos, but these can typically be addressed by covering any potentially problematic ink.

[via SPORTbible, GiveMeSport, Metro.co.uk, Snopes, cover photo 25237440 © Lukas Blazek | Dreamstime.com]