Olympics rules

[maniak]

Don´t know if this is the right forum, but here it goes.

I play an online political role-play game and a situation came up i´m not sure how to deal with.

The Olympics are in the 6th day when there´s a conflict in a separatist region of one of the countries participating, who revolts and declares independence. The government of that country goes in and crushes the rebellion.

Now the government sent a letter to the IOC saying all athletes from that region are banned from the Olympics and those who won medals will have to hand them over to the IOC who will hand them to the government.

If this happened in real life how would the IOC react? Are the medals property of the individual or the national olympic team? Can the athletes who qualified compete after their country say they can´t, this while the competition is under way?

 

[Sir Matt]

Nothing would happen. Georgia-Russia-South Ossetia in 2008 was a similar situation.

 

[maniak]

Nothing would happen. Georgia-Russia-South Ossetia in 2008 was a similar situation.

But what if the Georgian govrnment acted?

Imagine that the Georgian government would issue a statement saying a certain athlete born in Ossetia (georgian) was no longer representing Georgia and was banned from their national olumpic team. Now this athlete already won a semi-final and was competing in the final. Would the IOC acept the ban or would he compete?

And if he won a medal, is the medal his (private property) or does it belong to the national team. Would the IOC comply with the government request and not give him the medal?

 

[maniak]

Any ideas?

 

[Sir Matt]

I guess it depends on which country does it. I don't think that the government would just say that the athlete was no longer part of the team if he had no involvement or otherwise made his feelings known. It would be bad press for them. Also, depending on the sport, it would be difficult for an athlete to continue in certain events without the support of the team/support personnel. I'm not sure how the IOC would prevent the person from being removed, but they might allow them to stay. Depends who's giving them money.

I think the medals are property of the IOC or at least they have some control over them. I remember there being issues with female athletes posing naked with them.