The FIA says its ban on drivers making political gestures has been made in line with the principles of the Olympic Movement.
As RaceFans revealed earlier today, an update to the FIA International Sporting Code for 2023 prohibits drivers from “the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements” without the prior approval of the sport’s governing body. An FIA spokesperson said the revised rules is in line with existing text in its Statutes and the principles of the Olympic Movement.
“The ISC has been updated in alignment with the political neutrality of sport as a universal fundamental ethical principle of the Olympic Movement, enshrined in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Code of Ethics, together with the principle of the universality set out in Article 1.2,” the spokesperson told RaceFans.
The International Olympics Committee’s Code of Ethics requires “respect of the principle of the universality and political neutrality of the Olympic Movement”.
The FIA was given full recognition by the IOC in 2013. This confirmed that the governing body of motorsport’s practices conform to those laid down in the Olympic Charter.
The charter states: “Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organisations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality. They have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organisations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance be applied.”
The FIA Statutes have long stated that those involved in its activities must refrain from discriminating on political grounds.
“The FIA shall promote the protection of human rights and human dignity, and refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities and from taking any action in this respect,” it states.
“The FIA will focus on underrepresented groups in order to achieve a more balanced representation of gender and race and to create a more diverse and inclusive culture.”
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