CV NEWS FEED // The freedom advocacy organization Coptic Solidarity (CS) has urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate Egypt’s discrimination against Christian athletes and to issue corrective actions if they find that Egypt is violating the Olympic Charter.
In an Aug. 12 news release, CS wrote that they have contacted the IOC about Egypt’s discrimination against Christians, but “the IOC has never replied to Coptic Solidarity’s letters or formal submission through the online complaints’ mechanism.”
While Egypt’s population is 15% Coptic Christian, “Copts are virtually absent from the Olympics and all international competitions, prevented from competing and representing their nation,” the news release states.
It continues, “Once a player is identified as a Christian, they are disqualified at nearly every level of sport. The few who arrive at higher levels are removed in the process of signing with an athletic team… irrespective of their skill.”
CS pointed out that in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, there were no Coptic athletes playing any sport for Egypt. In the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, “There was a single Copt in the Egyptian delegation of 141 athletes,” and in the Paris 2024 Olympics, there was one Copt in the delegation of 154 athletes.
The press release further relates that the Olympic Charter “prohibits discrimination of any kind,” and it is the IOC’s responsibility to investigate and issue corrective actions against discrimination. The IOC has the power to issue sanctions, “which range from warnings and reprimands to suspension or even exclusion, and other measures to enforce compliance with its principles.”
“To this end,” the press release concludes, “Coptic Solidarity demanded that the IOC warn Egypt that it will be suspended from participating in future Olympics unless the IOC can verify that the Egyptian Olympic Committee has taken concrete steps” to include and represent Coptic athletes.
Established in 2010, CS is an advocacy organization that aims to assist Egyptian minorities, especially Coptic Christians, and support those in Egypt striving to protect the fundamental rights of all Egyptians.
