The Olympic rings are displayed in front of the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on February 24, 2021. REUTERS / Denis? Balibouse
Kneeling during the Tokyo Olympics or raising your fist in favor of racial equality will be punished, as the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday upheld its ban on athletes ’protests inside stadiums, in the ceremonies and on the podiums.
IOC rule 50 prohibits any kind of “political, religious or racial demonstration or propaganda” in venues and any other Olympic area, and the Games body concluded that the rule should be maintained after a consultation of athletes.
In the context of the Black Lives Matter movement protesting racial injustice, calls for a change in this rule to allow athletes to protest have increased in recent months.
Some heads of international federations, including World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, have said athletes should have the right to make political protest gestures during the Games.
The head of the IOC Athletes Commission, Kirsty Coventry, who led a review of the rule, said most of the athletes consulted were against any protest within the playing fields or podiums.
“I wouldn’t want anything to distract my competition and send me away. That’s how I still feel today,” Coventry, Zimbabwe’s former Olympic swimming champion, said in an online presentation of the results of the Rule 50 consultation. .
Coventry said there were a number of recommendations approved by the IOC executive council on Wednesday, including clarity on sanctions, more information on Rule 50, a change in the wording of the Olympic Oath with messages of inclusion and the production of clothes for athletes with inclusive messaging.
However, when asked if athletes would be punished in Tokyo for making political statements such as getting on one knee on the podium in favor of racial equality, Coventry said, “Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s also due to most of the athletes we’ve talked to. That’s what they ask for,” Coventry said.
The IOC recommendations are the result of a consultation process that began in June 2020 and involved more than 3,500 athletes.
Coventry said approximately 70% of these athletes did not want protests on podiums, ceremonies and playing fields.
The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by a year by the pandemic, will kick off on July 23.
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