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Athletes will not be able to campaign during the Tokyo Olympics – Liberation

This summer, we are unlikely to see an Olympic medalist kneel down on the Games podium. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Thursday that athletes will be banned from protesting on the podiums and sports fields of the Tokyo Olympics and the Beijing Winter Games, under the recommendations of the Athletes’ Commission.

Chaired by ex-Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry, this special commission presented the conclusions of a consultation conducted with 3,547 athletes, representing 185 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as well as the 41 Olympic sports, on a possible relaxation of rule number 50 of the Olympic charter. So far, the measure prohibits any “Political, religious or racial manifestation or propaganda” at Olympic venues.

The report was commissioned after several calls, in particular from the American Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and athletes committed to the issue of racial injustices, for a review of this rule 50. Or in its conclusions presented on Wednesday, more than two-thirds of respondents (70%) felt that it was “Not appropriate to manifest or express one’s point of view” on the podium (67%), on a field (70%) or during official ceremonies (70%). “Respondents tend to think it is appropriate for athletes to manifest or express their opinions in the media, at press conferences and in mixed areas,” indicates the IOC.

Inclusive messages premium

In other words, militant gestures like the raised fists of American athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the Mexico Games in 1968 in support of the “Black Power” movement could just as well be punished. Even if the sanctions are not clearly defined in the official texts. A point raised by the commission, and on which the legal branch of the IOC must work in order to establish different types of sanctions depending on the alleged facts.

Among the other recommendations adopted by the Executive Board, that of “Increase the opportunities for athletes to express their opinion during the Olympic Games”. For example, the opening and closing ceremonies can thus be an opportunity to“Adapt the Olympic oath to include messages on inclusion and non-discrimination”.

Delegations may also “Make outfits bearing inclusive messages and make them available to athletes and members of their entourage during the Games”, the terms proposed are not legion (peace, respect, solidarity, inclusion and equality). The same collective messages can also dress the visual identity of the Olympic Village, says the commission in its report.

“The purpose of this large-scale initiative was to engage in dialogue with the athletes in order to obtain their opinions on the existing and future possibilities to express their point of view at the Olympic Games and beyond. […] We are delighted that the IOC Executive Board has fully endorsed our proposals ”, congratulates himself Kirsty Coventry.

Less delighted, the athletes who hoped to take advantage of the unique visibility offered by the Games to send a message. The decision to ban any form of protest on the part of athletes could arouse opposition, after the protest movements in several sports that have marked 2020 (those in connection with the Black Lives Matter movement for example). The USOPC had thus authorized at the end of March the genuflections and other raised fists in its athletes during the Olympic selections. The same USOPC took the opportunity to assure American athletes competing in the Tokyo Games that they would be free to do the same during the national anthem, to support racial justice efforts. He has not yet reacted to this announcement from the IOC.

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