The International Olympic Committee has the power to eliminate competitions with weaponry and the responsibility to bring the Olympic Games in line with their admirable values.

The following quotes can be found on the website of the International Olympic Committee, https://olympics.com/ioc/olympic-values

Olympic Values

Respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.

The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world… without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play.

This is the idea of setting your rivalries aside. There is more that unites us than divides us.

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To be clear, ethics is synonymous with morality. The only universal moral principle is the preservation of life and the concomitant minimization of suffering in the world. Peace is the condition that nurtures life. That is what a “better world” means.

Since 1894 the Olympics have included competitions in the use of weaponry including archery, fencing, pentathlon (fencing and shooting), shooting (rifle, pistol, shotgun), and biathlon (rifles).

The Olympics continue to normalize weapons in society and reward proficiency in their use. These seemingly innocuous competitions promote universal acceptance of the means of violence. The glorification of those who use them obstructs efforts to create a Peaceful world. Peace is incongruent with weapons. And the inclusion of weapons events is incongruent with the stated values of the Olympics.

It is time to demand the elimination of weapons events from the Olympics. In a world plagued by violence, it is an affront to peaceful people around the world. We can leave the past behind. The Olympics can be a forum for Peace, but not until weapons are eliminated.