The document, based on the principles and rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Code of Ethics, is billed as the first of its kind by one of the five Continental organisations affiliated to the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

It is split into nine sections, covering the themes of dignity, integrity, integrity of competitions, good governance and resources, candidatures, confidentiality, honesty and good faith, reporting obligation and implementation and sanctions.

The clause referring to sexual orientation appears in the opening section alongside "political belief, ideology, religion, language, gender, race, ethnicity...or other ground of prohibited discrimination".

This follows the IOC's decision to add a similar clause into Host City Contracts in October 2014, something that prompted rare praise from Human Rights Groups. 

A PrideHouse was set-up to embrace lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ) communities in Toronto during last July's Pan American Games.

The PASO Executive Committee may "impose such provisional sanctions as it deems appropriate in the circumstances of any alleged breach of this Code of Ethics". 

Other elements include a reference warning how any "harassment of an individual, be it physical, psychological, or sexual, and bullying, assault or threatened assault, and any conduct intended to cause physical or psychological harm to an individual is prohibited".

This is something that was relevant last year when Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut resigned due to mounting sexual harassment allegations, but initially remained in his positions on the PASO Executive Committee and ANOC Executive Council until he stepped-down of his own volition as there was no concrete disciplinary process.

Any form of "remuneration or commission, nor any concealed benefit or service of any nature", is outlawed in the section on integrity, as is "any quid pro quo of any kind, other than what is fully and expressly disclosed to and authorized by the PASO Executive Committee".

The "hospitality shown to the members and staff of the PASO Community, and those persons who may be accompanying them, shall not exceed the standards prevailing in the country in which they are being hosted; shall be modest and never extravagant or excessive", another section reads.

It is also stipulated that the accounts of PASO and all "community members", such as Bidding Cities, Organising Committees and NOCs, must be "maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles". 

There is no mention, however, of annual accounts having to be placed in the public domain, such as on websites, with little information available about the details of the PASO budget.

The Code of Ethics can be read here.