The Olympic rings are depicted in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lausanne, Switzerland, February 24, 2021. REUTERS / Denis? Balibouse
Taking a knee at the Tokyo Olympics or raising a fist in support of racial equality will be punished as the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday enforced its ban on athlete protests in stadiums, at ceremonies and on stages.
Rule 50 of the IOC prohibits any form of “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” at venues and any other Olympic site and the Games body concluded that the rule should be enforced after consultation with the athlete.
Against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement protesting racial injustice, calls have increased in recent months for a change to that rule that would allow athletes to protest.
Some chiefs of the international federation, including World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, have said athletes should have the right to make political protest movements during the Games.
Kirsty Coventry, head of the IOC’s Athletes Committee, which led a review of the rule, said the majority of athletes consulted were against protests on the field or on the stages.
“I wouldn’t want anything to distract and take away from my competition. That’s how I still feel today,” Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion for Zimbabwe, said in an online presentation of the Rule 50 consultation results.
Coventry said a series of recommendations had been approved by the IOC’s Board of Directors on Wednesday, including clarifying sanctions, more information on Rule 50, a change to the wording of the Olympic Oath to include messages about inclusion and producing athlete apparel with inclusive messages.
However, when asked if athletes in Tokyo would be punished for making political statements, such as taking a knee on stage in support of racial equality, Coventry said, “Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s because of the majority of athletes we’ve spoken to. That’s what they’re asking for,” said Coventry.
The IOC’s recommendations are the result of a consultation process that began in June 2020 and involved more than 3,500 athletes.
Coventry said about 70% of those athletes did not want protests on stages, ceremonies and playing fields.
The Tokyo Olympics, postponed for a year due to the pandemic, will begin on July 23.
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