A kirpan, like these on display at a shop in Surrey, B.C., is worn under the clothes. The Sikh ceremonial dagger is a symbol of faith.A kirpan, like these on display at a shop in Surrey, B.C., is worn under the clothes. The Sikh ceremonial dagger is a symbol of faith. (Meera Bains/CBC)

Baptized Sikhs will be allowed to carry their ceremonial daggers, called kirpans, into venues at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the RCMP announced Thursday.

A kirpan is one of five symbols of faith that must be worn by baptized Sikhs according to their religion.

The RCMP's Integrated Security Unit held discussions with members of the community to come up with guidelines, said Sgt. Mike Coté.

Five symbols of the Sikh faith:

  • Uncut hair called kesh.
  • A small comb called kangha.
  • A circular iron bracelet called karra.
  • Undershorts called kaccha.
  • A small dagger called the kirpan.

"Because of the security measures at the venues, access would entail going through a metal detector. We thought we would be proactive and deal with this prior to the Games, and in fact we reached out to the Sikh community and sought their input to come up with some type of consensus," said Coté.

Only a baptized Sikh wearing all the five articles of faith will be able to wear a kirpan into an Olympic venue, and the blade can not be more than 10 centimetres long.