It's not every day that the International Olympic Committee receives kudos from human rights groups.
Human Rights Watch, however, is commending the IOC for including a new clause on human rights protection in the contract for future host cities, and urging FIFA and other sport bodies to follow suit.
The IOC had already added new language on non-discrimination in the host city contract, a move prompted by the international outcry over the law prohibiting gay "propaganda" enacted by Russia before the Sochi Winter Games in February.
Now, HRW is praising the IOC for including a clause on respecting international standards on labour and environment rights related to the Olympics.
Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at HRW, tweeted:
The contract binds the host city and local organisers to "carry out their obligations and activities ... in a manner which embraces the concept of sustainable development, and which serves to promote the protection of the environment."
The IOC met with HRW officials in Switzerland on Wednesday to discuss the inclusion of human rights protection in the contract.
"For years, repressive governments have brazenly broken the Olympic Charter and the promises they made to host the Olympics," Worden said in a statement. "This reform should give teeth to the lofty Olympic language that sport can be 'a force for good."'
The new clause is included in the host city contract for the 2022 Winter Games. Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, are the only two candidates following withdrawals, most recently by Oslo.
The contract binds the host city and local organisers to "carry out their obligations and activities ... in a manner which embraces the concept of sustainable development, and which serves to promote the protection of the environment."
Human rights issues in China and Kazakhstan make it important for the IOC to implement the new language, Worden said.
She called on FIFA to apply similar human rights protection for the World Cup and other federations to do the same, including organisers of next year's inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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