This Tattoo Could Get Athletes Banned From The Paralympics! 

Getting selected to participate in the Olympics or Paralympics is the highest achievement for many athletes, and a lot of them choose to commemorate it permanently by getting an Olympic rings tattoo. 

But that could be bad news for Paralympians as a visible Olympic ring tattoo may lead to them being disqualified.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is a separate organisation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), though they both have a rule which prohibits any form of ‘body advertising’ on competitors (there are lots of other rules are advertising, and specific sizes of logos allowed on kits, for example). 

If an Olympian has a tattoo of the Olympic rings, which we saw a lot of in Paris, then that’s fine under IOC rules because the rings are essentially ‘advertising’ the IOC brand. However, if an athlete has a tattoo of a nutrition or other sponsor, for example, then they would need to cover it up during competition. 

The complication for Paralympians is because the Olympic rings are the official logo of IOC and not the IPC, therefore in the IPC ruling an Olympic ring tattoo constitutes ‘body advertising’ of another organisation, or brand. This rules apply to any IPC competition.

World Para Swimming rules state that “Body advertisements (except for the WPS logo or Agitos symbol) are not permitted in any way whatsoever (this includes tattoos and symbols).” 

The Agitos symbol is the Paralympic equivalent of the Olympic rings. Athletes in the Paralympics are allowed to have this tattoo on display.

This tattoo rule was introduced ahead of the London 2012 Games, but wasn’t properly enforced until 2016. Athletes are all briefed on this rule ahead of the Paralympic Games, and it seems like it’s a rule which will be enforced in Paris 2024. 

Any Paralympic athletes who have Olympic ring tattoos, or who happen to have any other tattoo which constitutes advertising, will need to have it fully covered when competing or they risk being disqualified. 

The Paris 2024 Paralympics opening ceremony is on Wednesday 28th August, with the Para athletics schedule from Friday 30th August until Sunday 8th September. 

*** UPDATE ***

Since publishing this story, it’s been confirmed that the IPC will not be enforcing this rule about Olympic ring tattoos at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, though the ruling about ‘body advertising’ is still in place as it is in the Olympic Games.