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Obscure Rules Olympians Must Follow

Sometimes the rules Olympians must follow are a bit surprising—like not being able to hang on the hoop after a dunk.

Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira, 22, was sent home from the 2024 Paris Games after being caught leaving the Olympic Village without authorization with another teammate, Gabriel Santos, following the Opening Ceremony on July 26. “Face painting is not allowed,” the handbook states, also noting that “any makeup must be modest and not portray a theatrical character (animal or human).” Bright nail polish is also a no-go—only neutral colors or none at all for these athletes. Olympic wrestlers have to wear a cloth handkerchief somewhere in their uniform, called a ‘bleeder’ or ‘bloodrag,’ which is used to clean up any bleeding from competition or to mop the mat of any bodily fluids.

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