More than 74,000 members of All Out - a global lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights organisation - put their name to a petition delivered to the IOC.

A further 40,000 sent their own submissions directly to the IOC, according to All Out.

The All Out organisation wanted to deliver its message before today's deadline for submissions to the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020 - which is looking for ideas on how the Olympic Movement can be developed.

February's Sochi 2014 Olympics, and the Paralympics which followed, were dogged by controversy over Russia's anti-gay rights law, which bans "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations".

"Russia's extreme anti-gay laws and violence were largely ignored by the International Olympic Committee throughout the Sochi Olympics," said Andre Banks, executive director and co-founder of All Out.

"There must be basic, minimum standards to ensure that Olympic host countries protect athletes, tourists, and citizens of every country.

"It's time for the Olympics to change the rules and make sure that all future Games follow Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter - ensuring non-discrimination for all."

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin, wants opinions from far and wide as part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 ©AFP/Getty Images



Olympic Agenda 2020 will culminate in an Extraordinary IOC Session due to be held in Monte Carlo on December 6 and 7.

All Out wants the IOC to overhaul the bid process to ensure "host countries do not have laws in place that discriminate on protected grounds against groups".

It also wants it to include "specific human rights pledges" in future host city contracts, and amend Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter to "specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity".

Banks added: "No country has a perfect human rights record but potential Olympic hosts should be held to the highest standards of the Olympic Charter.

"Countries with laws designed to discriminate against or attack the dignity or human rights of anyone - including lesbian, gay, bi and trans people - are clearly inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and should not be given the honour and privilege of hosting the Olympic Games."

Ahead of the Games in Sochi, IOC President Thomas Bach criticised world leaders for boycotting the Games over Russia'as anti-gay rights law, saying: "Have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
March 2014: Bach sets out timetable for Olympic Agenda 2020
February 2014: Bach criticises world leaders for boycotting Sochi 2014 as IOC Session opens
February 2014: Gay protests at Sochi 2014 "make no sense" claims Olympic Village Mayor
February 2014: Gay Norwegian Minister to take husband to Sochi 2014
January 2014: Anti-gay rights threat is "non-existent" and "invented abroad" claims Russian Prime Minister