Five Swedish track and field athletes are filing suit against the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOC) for what they deem is 'a clear violation of the Olympic Charter.' 

Outlined in their suit taken to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport against the SOC is the Olympic Charter's language which reads that no National Olympic Committee can interfere with the selection process set in place by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

There are two ways athlete can qualify for the track and field competition at the Olympic Games and one is meeting the outlined Olympic standard across events. The other, however, is meeting the world ranking quota outlined by the IOC. 

But the SOC, which is the national governing body of Sweden's track and field constituency -- along with others across the globe -- has steeper rules beyond the World Rankings quota. It requires athletes to meet standards required to finish among the top 12 in the world in a major championship. 

"Not getting selected for Tokyo has been my careers (sic) biggest heart break, and even though I knew going into Paris that our selection process is unfair and unpredictable -- I got myself to believe that maybe this time I would be selected."

Nine Swedish athletes met the World Rankings quota outlined by the IOC. None were selected to represent the team based on the SOC's factors outlined in their own selection process, with that decision being handed down on July 3. 

So six of these athletes -- Emil Bengtson (sailing), Rebecka Hallerth (hammer), Leo Magnusson (3K steeplechase), Sara Lennman (shot put), Simon Sundrström (3K steeplechase) and Yolanda Ngarambe (1,500m) -- are taking their issues farther down the line. 

The group of six has opened a donation plea to help cover the cost of the suit with the Court of Arbitration and has already gathered donations of upwards of 247,810 krona, which converts to roughly $23,474 in U.S. currency. The group is looking to raise roughly 500,000 krona, or roughly $47,000. 

Recently, Ngarambe, a member of the Atlanta Track Club, has been outspoken of her fate. 

The women's 1,500m runner experienced this disappointment first in 2021, failing to get selected for the Swedish team in Tokyo despite earning the world ranking needed. 

"Not getting selected for Tokyo has been my careers (sic) biggest heart break, and even though I knew going into Paris that our selection process is unfair and unpredictable -- I got myself to believe that maybe this time I would be selected." 

Ngarambe, 32, received a phone call the first week in July from the Swedish Olympic Committee telling her that "I unofficially have midnight the next day to put a performance down that could change their mind." 

She had won the Swedish national championship in the women's 1,500m on June 29, just three days prior. 

"Where was I supposed to go?!" she wrote on Instagram. 

"Enough is enough," she continued. "Stop with the age discrimination (teh 25 and under age criteria). Stop with the nonsense (the top 12 criteria). Please make it clear on how to get selected for the Games!" 

Ngarambe recently updated her team's fight with the SOC and reported that the cost of the trial will be 573,00 krona, or $54,000 USD. The team's responsibility is to pay half of the costs, she said. 

All of the group's unused money will be donated to Aldrig Ensam, a mental health charity which translates to "Never Alone." 

When Are The Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

The Olympics begin on July 26 and end on August 11. The track and field events will begin on Aug. 1. 

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