Yahoo Sports Olympic Rings Tattoos Are No Longer Banned at the Paralympics
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Athletes at the Paralympics will no longer be required to hide their Olympic rings tattoos. The International Paralympic Committee decided to allow Olympic rings tattoos on August 23, 2024.
Previously, athletes were required to cover up any tattoo affiliated with a brand or logo and would be penalized or even disqualified from the games if they did not follow the rule. Now, however, participants are free to show off their ring tattoos.
“Athletes with such tattoos do not need to cover them up,” Craig Spence, IPC’s chief brand and communications officer, told the New York Times in an email but didn't specify why the rule had changed. However, as noted by the NYT, the Olympic logo was considered an advertisement for what is essentially a competing brand.
Olympic Rings Tattoos Are No Longer Banned at the Paralympics
Paralympic swimmer Rudy Garcia-Tolson, 35, who got a tattoo of the Olympic rings at 16, told the NYT that before the rule was changed, he'd use a permanent marker to hide his tattoo. "It was just part of our routine," he told the outlet. "Before an event, it was: ‘All right, I need my cap, I need my goggles, I need my swimsuit and I need a Sharpie.’" To Garcia-Tolson, the ring tattoo is about more than just the games; it “signifies our journey, our experiences as athletes … the pursuit of being the best,” he shared.
Olympic Rings Tattoos Are No Longer Banned at the Paralympics
It's important to note that the Olympics and the Paralympics are not the same event; while some athletes may participate in both, the Paralympics is a competition meant for athletes with disabilities. The two events share many competitive categories, and there may be some participant overlap. The Paralympics also has its own logo, a set of three red, green, and blue curved lines called the Agitos, which roughly translates to “I move.” The 2024 Paralympics kick off in Paris on August 28 and run through September 8.
Related: How to Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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