US President Joe Biden is backing the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the birthplace of lacrosse, in its quest to compete under its own flag when the sport makes its return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The confederacy, which is a collection of six Indegenous nations in upstate New York and Canada, founded the oldest organised sports in North America.
PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT
Biden announced his support during a speech at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on Wednesday. He requested a “narrowly-scoped exception” to Olympic rules, that would allow the Haudenosaunee participate, citing their role in inventing the sport.
Various indigenious tribes in North America played variations of the sport as early as the 12th century, according to World Lacrossse, the sport’s international governing body.
“The game brought tribes together. A force for peace, friendship and healing. The Six Nations players are still amongst the very best in the world,” Biden said.
Biden added: “The Six Nations team is asking to compete under their own tribal flag. Today I’m announcing my support for that request. Their ancestors invented the game. They perfected it for a millennium. Their circumstances are unique and they should be granted an exception to field their own team at the Olympics.”
ADDITIONAL SPORT
Lacrosse was one of the five additional sports included on the LA28 programme at the IOC Session in Mumbai, in October, and will be making its third Olympic appearance after St Louis 1904 and London 1908.
However, the participation of the Haudenosaunee national team remains a big question. In line with the Olympic charter, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy needs to have a recognised national Olympic Committee to compete at the Games.
SINCERELY GRATEFUL
Leo Nolan, the executive director of the Haudenosaunee national team, told USA Today he is ‘sincerely grateful’ to Biden for his public support, but acknowledged that the International Olympic Committee has the final say on their inclusion in 2028.
“The IOC is the ultimate decider on this. We respect that,” Nolan told USA Today.
“We respect the Olympic framework of sports competition, and I think it’s a great opportunity for the Olympics to really step up and say this is a recognized sport that is now around the world thanks to the Haudenosaunee, (because of) their contribution to the game of lacrosse.”
POTENTIAL PATHWAYS
World Lacrosse has been a strong advocate for the Olympic inclusion of the Haudenosaunee. In October they said they would continue to look for “a creative solution”.
In a joint statement, World Lacrosse and Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse thanked Biden for his support.
“Recognition of the cultural significance of lacrosse to the Haudenosaunee people – and the Haudenosaunee people to lacrosse – is an important step in our Olympic journey,” It read. “The Olympic Games are the most powerful platform for promoting understanding and peace among nations. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee, LA28, and the US and Canadian Olympic Committees to explore potential pathways for the Haudenosaunee to participate in the Olympics while respecting the Olympic Games framework.”
STRONG TEAM
Formerly known as the Iroquois Nationals until recently, the Haudenosaunee men’s national team, which made it’s debut in 1983 and was recognised by World Lacrosse in 1988, has featured regularly at World Championships since 1990.
The Haudenosaunee women’s national team made their worlds debut in 2009. They are among the leading sides in the world with the men ranked 3rd and the women 8th.
Credit: AIPS Media
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