Paralympics Drops Ban on Olympic Rings Tattoos

Paralympians will no longer have to cover their Olympic circuit logo tattoos, the committee that oversees the Paralympic Games has decided.

On Friday 23.8. The New York Times reported that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has changed its long-standing policy requiring Paralympic athletes to cover tattoos containing brands or logos – including the Olympic rings. In the past, if athletes did not cover their tattoos during competition, they would face penalties, including disqualification.

Now the IPC has reversed that rule. Craig Spence, IPC’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer, told the times that Paralympians with circles tattooed do not have to cover them, but offered no explanation as to why the commission decided to change its policy.

“Athletes with such tattoos should not cover them,” he said.

IPC did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Paralympic Agitos logo on the Arc de Triomphe in France.

Alex Slitz/Getty

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For many Paralympians and Olympians, tattooing the logo – which features 5 interlocking rings in blue, yellow, black, red and green – is an important part of the tradition of competing at the Games.

According to USA Today, swimmer Chris Jacobs, who won three medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, is often credited with starting the logo tattoo tradition after he tattooed a small ring tattoo on his side after those games.

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“I think it’s become a rite of passage,” Jacobs told the newspaper in July. “It’s almost like a little ticket to a somewhat exclusive club.”

However, Paralympians have had a different take on ring tattoos — partly due to the fact that the Paralympics and the Olympics are two different events governed by two different governing bodies. The Paralympics, which the Olympics consider a competing brand, have their own logo called Agitos, which features three drag-like symbols in red, blue and green.

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Rudy Garcia-Tolson, 35, a Paralympic swimming medalist who plans to return to the 2028 games in Los Angeles, told times that he started using a blade to cover his tattoo when games started cracking down on logos.

“It was just part of our routine,” he told the newspaper. “Before the event, it was, ‘Okay, I need my hat, I need my glasses, I need my swimsuit, and I need a Sharpie.’ ”

“Having a logo on our bodies that signifies our journey, our experience as an athlete — that’s important to a lot of us,” he added of the rule change. “… For me, my journey to the Paralympics is those Olympic circuits. That’s what they stand for – striving to be the best.”

To learn more about all the Olympic winners and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com and check out the live coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Paris Paralympics, which begin on August 28, on NBC and Peacock.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education

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