Position Paper Topic B
Position Paper Topic B
Position Paper Topic B
Topic B:
● Assessing the impact of suspension policies on athletes that represent countries
involved in armed conflicts.
This raises concerns about fairness, individual rights, and the role of sport in promoting
peace. The Olympic Movement emphasizes unity, peace, and friendship, but blanket
suspensions can undermine these values by silencing athletes who may advocate for peace.
While Chile is not currently involved in any armed conflict, the broader international
landscape and the application of such suspension policies could impact our athletes in
unforeseen ways. We uphold the Olympic values of unity, respect, and inclusion, and believe
that sport should serve as a platform for peace and dialogue. When athletes are suspended
without regard to their personal actions or stances, it undermines the very ideals of solidarity
and fair play. I advocate for a more balanced approach that recognizes athletes’ individual
rights while still condemning aggression and promoting peace through sport.
Additionally, as a country that values the spirit of inclusivity, we are concerned that blanket
bans may contribute to an environment where athletes feel their participation is at risk due to
geopolitical tensions. Chile stands for the principle that sport should unite, not divide, and
believes that these policies should not create divisions within the international sporting
community.
For this, as representative of The Republic of Chile I propose the following strategies to
achieve this:
● Support for Affected Athlete: Provide resources, training facilities, and financial aid
to athletes impacted by conflict, enabling them to continue their training and
competition safely.
● Neutral Flag Option: Allow athletes from suspended countries to compete under a
neutral flag.
References
International Olympic Committee. (2020). IOC, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and
the global fight against doping in sport. Retrieved from https://olympics.com/ioc/anti-doping
Mroczek, J., & Sappington, S. (2020). The impact of political conflicts on athletes’
participation in international competitions. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics,
12(3), 235-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2020.179234
Lyras, A. (2019). Sport and peacebuilding: The role of athletes in conflict resolution. Journal
of Peace and Sport, 14(2), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jps.2019.01.003