On Wednesday the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission released their recommendations on the changes to Rule 50, which governs athlete expression at the Olympic Games. After consulting over 3,500 athletes, over two-thirds of those surveyed believe that protests during competition, on the medal stand, or during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies should not take place.
The results in the survey and recommendations resulted in a number of athletes and organizations speaking out against the findings while showing support for athletes who do choose to protest.
The USOPC Athlete Advisory Council released a statement via Twitter indicating their displeasure with the findings saying “Until the IOC changes its approach of feeding the myth of the neutrality of sport or protecting the status quo, the voices of marginalized athletes will continue to be silenced.”
The AAC’s statement in response to the IOC recommendations on #Rule50 and athlete expression at the @Olympics #Humanrights pic.twitter.com/NUMtGtuNT4
— Team USA Athletes’ Commission (@TeamUSA_AC) April 22, 2021
Members of the AAC leadership team include swimmer Anthony Ervin, a three-time gold medalist. Ervin also released a video voicing his displeasure with the IOC AC recommendations saying “Are you to be atop that podium, and those moments, for those few moments, you will lead your country. You wanna take a knee? Lead us by taking a knee. You wanna raise a fist? Lead us by raising a fist. You wanna cry tears of joy? Lead us with your tears.”
The Chair of the AAC leadership is bobsledder and skeleton racer Bree Schaaf, who also works as the program manager for Global Athlete. GA is an “international athlete-led movement that will inspire and lead positive change in world sport.” GA released a statement against the recommendations. GA had social science research experts review the IOC survey and concluded that that the methodology was both leading and flawed. GA believes that the IOC’s recommendations “further dictates when, where, and what athletes can speak. This is the opposite to freedom of expression.”
In March the USOPC released their guidelines for athlete protests at Olympic and Paralympic Trials events. The USOPC has specified that it is allowing Racial & Social Justice demonstrations that promote historically underrepresented and marginalized groups. They are also prohibiting symbols and slogans of hate such as the confederate flag. The recommendations from the IOC AC are much more general in that they look at how and where athletes can protest rather than what specific slogans and symbols will be allowed or prohibited.
Athleten Deutschland, an independent group that represents German athletes, have given their support to athletes who choose to protest at the Tokyo Games. Johannes Herber, the executive director of AD said “Should German athletes decide to peacefully stand up for fundamental values such as fighting racism during the Olympic Games, they can rely on the legal support of Athleten Deutschland.”
Despite these groups speaking out, over half [53%] of American athletes polled were against podium protest while over 60% were against protests during the Opening Ceremony or during competition.
Would this be an appropriate expression of protest…
https://youtu.be/FMrqlo_L-gY
You are a troll sir
the fact that everyone is so up in arms about this post only serves to prove that such acts of protest on the olympic stage as what tommie smith and john carlos did in 1968 are very much legitimate, important, and effective at making people feel uncomfortable (in a way that’s ultimately beneficial towards the social movements they draw attention to) enough that they have to go ramble online about it… as if their opinion matters at all. everyone complaining here is just ironically proving that everything ervin says here hit the nail on the head.
You really want unlimited free speech? Would you then allow the confederate flag on my warmup jacket? How about anti-gay symbols? White Supremacy hand signals? Or do you simply propose to allow ‘free speech’ which is the speech YOU want to hear? My view is that I tune in to the Olympics to see Katie Ledecky be her awesome swimming self; and I’ve seen Ervin lay down incredible sprints. I support limiting controversy during official ceremonies. I’ll check out people’s ‘political speech’ at another forum.
Bye! Don’t let the door hit ya where the lord split ya!
Damn you really got him huh
Do what we say while getting no pay? Eh? No way, not today or any other day. Hey!
Again, its all about the kneel? NO.
Its about something else altogether, and it makes no difference if you like the kneel or don’t.
Its only about: do athletes have freedom of speech, or is free expression a punishable offense?
Are athletes free thinking free speaking individuals or just instruments for the audience’s entertainment?
It doesn’t matter if an athlete chooses to exercise his/her freedom of speech.
What matters is that he/she if free to do so, and not under threat of sanctions.
That’s the issue.
This. This is it. It is so sad to see the divide on the idea of being able to express yourself. “Freedom of speech” my ass.
https://youtu.be/M87YTo7XsE8
Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick began sitting during the national anthem (of NFL games) to draw attention to racial injustice in the United States. Former U.S. Army Green Beret Nate Boyer suggested that he kneel instead. It’s discussed in the link above.
Sorry SNOWFLAKE, sports are not your SAFE SPACE from people expressing themselves. DEAL WITH IT