Every two years, when the world’s best athletes gather to compete for glory, all Olympians must follow rules, even if some of them may seem a little strange. These rules range from how athletes should dress and look to general restrictions on behavior.
The Summer and Winter Olympic Games are some of the most unifying and heartwarming moments in sport. But it’s not all fun and games (no pun intended). Even if an athlete feels the rules are unfair, breaking them once (depending on the infraction) could result in the loss of hard-earned points and a missed opportunity to continue their quest for Olympic glory.
Brazilian swimmers Ana Carolina VieiraThe 22-year-old has been ordered to return home from Paris 2024 after it was discovered he had left the Olympic Village without permission with another teammate. Gabriel SantosFollowing the opening ceremony on July 26th.
According to the COB, after being reprimanded, Vieira responded to the committee’s “technical decisions” in a “rude and aggressive” manner, which resulted in her being sent home.
To gain a deeper understanding of the Olympics, let’s take a look at some of the lesser known and unusual Olympic rules in the rulebook.
Divers must be confident
Figure skating
Water polo
bike
BMX racers must wear a loose-fitting, long-sleeved jersey. The jersey reaches the waist and must be tucked in. Lycra is also prohibited and long trousers must be worn in case of a crash. For BMX Freestyle, the rules and dress code are more relaxed. Although tucked in is not mandatory, the main focus of the dress code is safety and functionality and jerseys are usually form-fitting.
Gymnastics
If Olympic runners choose to hold hands at the finish line, they will be disqualified under rules that don’t allow unnatural holding.