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Under Rule 50, contestants who protest at “all Olympic venues” are subject to disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis. Today, after the George Floyd affair in the United States, American athletes want to relax this rule of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
IOC Rule 50 states that no kind of political, religious or racial demonstration or propaganda is allowed in an Olympic venue, venue or other location. It applies by extension to the awarding of medals and prohibits these forms of demonstration on the podiums. Remember that the Olympic Games bring together around 11,000 athletes from some 206 National Olympic Committees (and, by extension, governments).
John Carlos returns to battle
Kneeling on the ground is currently prohibited by rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which also prohibits hand gestures having political significance. However, several athletes around the world have made this gesture since the end of May to support the fight against racism following the death of George Floyd, killed during a police arrest in Minneapolis, in the United States. The 46-year-old black man did not survive his arrest after a white policeman pressed his knee to his neck for more than eight minutes.
Mobilization continues in the United States to urge the IOC to abolish, or at least soften, rule 50 of the Olympic Charter on the prohibition of expressing political, racial or religious opinion at the Games.
The Athletes’ Commission of the American Olympic Committee (USOPC) published a letter, notably signed by John Carlos, who is remembered for raising his fist, with his compatriot Tommie Smith, on the podium in the 200 m at the Mexico Games in 1968 , calling for reform. ” Athletes will no longer be silenced. We are now at a crossroads. The IOC and the IPC cannot continue to punish or eliminate athletes who defend their convictions, especially when these convictions illustrate the objectives of Olympism. Olympic and Paralympic movement simultaneously honors athletes like John Carlos and Tommie Smith, while prohibiting current athletes from following in their footsteps », One can read.
Fifa open to dialogue
The USOPC Athletes’ Commission calls on sporting bodies to ” seamless collaboration With the athletes and their representatives. Pressure is therefore increasing on the IOC in the debate on the freedom of expression of athletes.
In early June, Fifa asked the National Federations to be lenient towards players who pay tribute to George Floyd. After the announcement of the German Federation and possible sanctions against players who paid tribute to George Floyd, the body of world football had quickly reacted by asking for leniency. ” Fifa fully understands the depth of the feelings and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case, could be read in a statement to the Associated Press news agency. The application of the laws of the game is left to the organizers of the competitions, who must use common sense and take into account the context surrounding the events.. »
NBA may ease rules
After Fifa, the NBA could be more flexible. According to the American site of the ESPN chain, basketball players could be authorized to wear jerseys flocked with slogans this season supporting the fight against racism and social justice. Oklahoma City Thunder leader Chris Paul says talks are well underway with the North American league.
« We are simply trying to continue to shed light on the social justice issues that everyone continues to talk about day after day in the league. I hear a lot of people claiming that the issues of racism and social justice will be somewhat forgotten when we resume play. With these jerseys, they will not go away “Says Chris Paul on ESPN. Former American basketball player Michael Jordan, who during his career had always kept away from political or societal positions, had denounced ” entrenched racism and violence against people of color in our country ” In the United States, the anti-racism movement is now spreading to almost all sports fields.
« The Olympic Games have always been a platform for athletes and their sports performances. But the Olympics are not and should never be a platform for political demands or any talk of division “Said IOC President Thomas Bach last January at the opening of the 135th IOC session in Lausanne. The former German fencer, Olympic champion, recently suggested that rule 50 could be reviewed as part of a consultation process to be led by the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
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