A/HRC/62/55 G. Hosting sporting events, including major international events 38. The hosting of sporting events, including major international events, can present opportunities for sports governance bodies and States to promote anti-racism measures. They can also be a highly visible platform for athletes from marginalized racial and ethnic groups to challenge negative stereotypes and inspire children and young people. There are also a multitude of human rights issues involved in the hosting of sporting events, particularly major international competitions. 39. Many human rights organizations have raised concerns about how sports governance bodies decide where international events should be hosted and whether human rights impact assessments are consistently undertaken when these decisions are made. The Special Rapporteur welcomes some measures taken by sports governance bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), to implement human rights impact assessments when determining host cities for sporting events. However, the Special Rapporteur remains concerned about reports about the limited extent to which the issue of racial discrimination is integrated into human rights impact assessments. Racialized groups may be disproportionately affected by any negative human rights impacts related to the hosting of sporting events because of their positionality and pre-existing vulnerabilities, underlining the necessity of ensuring that the issue of racial discrimination is central to impact assessments. 40. In addition to risks linked to planning and hosting decisions, the operational phase of events raises further human rights concerns. For example, hosting major international sporting events typically entails extensive public security operations. This can present significant risks of exacerbating manifestations of racial discrimination perpetrated by law enforcement officials, including racial profiling and the excessive and lethal use of force. The increasing integration of artificial intelligence into law enforcement, including artificial intelligence designed to manage public security during sporting events, further deepens these risks. Another important human rights issue is the internal displacement that can occur as a result of preparations for major international sporting events. Those from marginalized racial and ethnic groups are likely to be disproportionately impacted by this due to their pre-existing vulnerability. H. Impunity for racial discrimination in sport 41. Athletes facing racial and intersecting forms of discrimination at different levels of sports can also face several major barriers with regard to submitting complaints and obtaining redress, which contributes to an overall climate of impunity in sport. These barriers operate both at a structural level, through governance frameworks and cultural norms, and at a procedural level, through the complexity, cost and accessibility of available remedies. 42. Some forms of racism, particularly structural and systemic forms, may be so inherent in a sport and its overall governance and culture that they may not be recognized as discrimination with a clear path for redress. Narratives about the importance of outcomes being decided by sporting competition, rather than legal measures, can dominate and may have a further chilling effect on athletes seeking redress. This invisibilization of racism can be exacerbated by athletes’ fears of professional exclusion and reprisals for speaking out about racism.56 43. Elite athletes who decide to seek remedy for manifestations of racial discrimination covered by the rules and regulations of sports governance bodies can face complex legal pathways. Arbitration mechanisms and committees within the governance bodies of various sports tend to be the first recourse for athletes. As highlighted in many submissions received by the Special Rapporteur, serious concerns have been raised about the independence and impartiality of these bodies, and about their knowledge and consistent application of human rights standards. If a complaint cannot be resolved by a sport’s governance body, there is an 56 12 Submissions from FAIR – Fide Research Monitoring Reporting; International Attestations; and Sports Rights Watch. GE.26-07112