That message was delivered by the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF), as part of its submission to the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020 - a roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.

In what may be seen as a nod to the controversy that blighted the build-up to the Sochi Olympics in February after Russia's Parliament passed an anti-gay propaganda law, the NIF wants the IOC to ensure adherence to the Olympic Charter is "an absolute prerequisite for future host cities".

It added: "This should also apply to the rights of the worker, something the IOC could achieve by working even closer with the international labour organisations.

"Future Games must be characterised by due diligence, transparency and respect for human rights."

The Norwegian capital Oslo is one of five cities bidding to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In the seven-page document submitted to the IOC, the NIF addresses a number of key areas for the Olympic Movement which it thinks should be addressed or reinforced.

These include ensuring more women are given the platform to become sports coaches, while continuing to encourage their participation in all levels of sport.

The NIF added: "It is also important that there is an increase in female participation in the boardrooms of the national and international sports organisation.

"This is indeed a question regarding the credibility of sports on all levels."

The NIF has also highlighted sustainability and how the use of existing and upgraded venues for Olympic events should be encouraged, the continued importance of tackling anti-doping and match fixing, and engaging young people to prevent "an outdated and old fashioned organisation in charge of old and outdated Olympic Games".

The 2016 Winter Youth Olympics will make use of many of the venues from the 1994 Olympics, like the Vikingskipet for speed skating ©Getty Images



The NIF used its organisation of the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer to show what lessons it was putting into practice.

"As an National Olympic Committee [NOC] deeply rooted in our national society and as a nation with a long standing tradition of hosting major sporting events, the Norwegian NOC is committed to contribute to this much welcomed reform process by the IOC," said the NIF secretary general Inge Andersen.

"And as the host for the next Winter Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games 2016 in Lillehammer, we really feel that we can make a comprehensive contribution regarding the need to reach out to the youths and to develop youth sports all over the world.

"On the basis of a newly signed agreement between the Norwegian NOC and the four most important national labour unions in Norway regarding future Olympic and Paralympic Games in Norway, we also underline the need for the IOC and all future hosts to take universal human rights into account on all aspects of the planning and the delivering  Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"We have also argued for the need to keep future Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games as a true celebration of winter sports and winter culture."

The NIF's contribution to the Olympic Agenda 2020 will culminate at its annual general meeting next month, with the subject to be debated.

Norway's 54 national federations and 19 regional confederations are currently involved in giving their opinions on the different topics.

The NIF will submit a revised and more comprehensive contribution to Olympic Agenda 2020 after that meeting.

The IOC, under the leadership of President Thomas Bach, are due hold an Extraordinary Session in Monaco on December 6 and 7 to discuss potential changes to the Movement.

For full details of the submission click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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