John Carlos wants to abolish the rule prohibiting protests at the Olympic Games.
The renowned Olympic protester has written a letter to an influential group of American athletes and asked the IOC to introduce new policies in collaboration with athletes from around the world.
Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists on the medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics to protest racial inequality in the United States. They were sent home for violating rules prohibiting such protests. These rules remain in effect to this day, although the IOC has recently expressed its willingness to reconsider following global demonstrations against racial injustices.
“Carlos and Smith risked everything to stand up for human rights and what they believed in, and continue to inspire them to do the same, generation after generation,” the letter said. “It is time for the Olympic and Paralympic Movements to honor their bravery instead of denouncing their actions.”
Carlos joined the Athletic Advisory Board of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and sent the open letter to the International Olympic and Paralympic Committee on Saturday. The letter said the AAC discussed the issue with the IOC athletes commission.
Earlier this month, IOC President Thomas Bach said that protests over George Floyd’s murder in the United States would “explore different ways” to express opinions during the games – while “respecting the Olympic spirit.”
Rob Koehler, director of the Global Athlete advocacy group, said: “Sport believes that they can operate under a separate rule of law. But they cannot. Athletes work together as a collective because sports leaders have become too complacent. “
Also this week, the head of the Caribbean Association of the National Olympic Committees advocated a revision of Rule 50, arguing that the often-quoted IOC notion that sport should be free of politics is not realistic.
“Think of the commendable efforts in North and South Korea,” wrote Brian Lewis. “Think of the orientation towards the United Nations. However, sport cannot only select the political topics and campaigns that it might like. “
The USOPC got into the spotlight, also because last summer she put the hammer thrower Gwen Berry on probation after raising her fist at the medal level at the Pan American Games.
USOPC leaders have stated that they are trying to broaden the conversation about racial injustices and are open to changes in rule 50 – the IOC rule, which prohibits protests on the medal level and elsewhere within the line at the games.
“Athletes are no longer silenced,” the letter said. “We are now at a crossroads. The IOC and IPC cannot continue to punish or remove athletes who are committed to what they believe in, especially if these beliefs illustrate the goals of Olympism. “
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