A Digital Documentation Initiative on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression in Sport
Access to reliable information is essential for public discussion, accountability, and freedom of expression. Yet information concerning human rights violations affecting athletes is often fragmented, difficult to access, or absent from mainstream reporting.
The Last Medal is a long-term Human Rights for Sport initiative dedicated to documenting, preserving, and disseminating information concerning human rights violations affecting athletes. Through publicly accessible digital documentation, the initiative seeks to strengthen transparency, improve access to reliable information, and contribute to informed discussion on human rights and freedom of expression in sport.
About the Project
The current phase of The Last Medal focuses on documenting human rights violations affecting Iranian athletes. The project systematically verifies, updates, and publishes information concerning athletes who have faced detention, imprisonment, exclusion, discrimination, reprisals, or other adverse consequences associated with the exercise of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.
Each documented athlete is provided with a dedicated profile containing verified information, relevant background, and supporting sources.
Why This Matters
Many athlete cases remain underreported, fragmented across multiple sources, or inaccessible to the public. By bringing together verified information in one searchable location, The Last Medal aims to:
- Increase public access to reliable information.
- Support journalists, researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations.
- Strengthen transparency concerning human rights violations in sport.
- Contribute to informed public discussion on sport, human rights, and freedom of expression.
- Preserve public records that might otherwise be lost or overlooked.
Public Access
All project outputs are made publicly available through:
- Human Rights for Sport website
- X (formerly Twitter)
The project is intended as an open resource for journalists, researchers, athletes, sport organisations, policymakers, human rights organisations, and members of the public.
Future Development
While the current phase focuses on digital documentation and dissemination, Human Rights for Sport intends to further develop The Last Medal through future public engagement initiatives. These may include seminars, public discussions, exhibitions, and partnerships designed to increase awareness of human rights and freedom of expression in sport.
The long term ambition is to expand the initiative beyond Iran and document similar issues affecting athletes in additional national contexts.