USOPC Won’t Sanction Athletes For Social Justice Demonstrations at Olympics

USOPC Won’t Sanction Athletes For Social Justice Demonstrations at Olympics

The Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice Thursday released recommendations related to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, requesting an end to prohibitions on peaceful demonstrations by athletes and team members at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The decision has the backing of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the Athletes Advisory Council (AAC). The USOPC furthered its support but decreeing that it, “will not sanction Team USA athletes for respectfully demonstrating in support of racial and social justice for all human beings.”

From Thursday’s press release:

The Council’s recommendation is built on the foundation that athletes should have the right to peacefully protest and demonstrate against racial and social injustices and to promote human dignity through global sport. It calls for the IOC and IPC to update guidelines to allow for peaceful actions that specifically advocate for human rights and racial and social justice, and distinguishes those acts from to-be-defined “divisive demonstrations” – including, but not limited to, currently prohibited acts of hate speech, racist propaganda, political statements and discrimination.

Read the full reccommendations here.

The Council on Racial and Social Justice was formed this summer in response to the killing of George Floyd in May and global protests against racial injustice. It contains a specific “Steering Committee: Protests and Demonstrations” that includes two athletes disciplined by the USOPC for demonstrations at the 2019 Pan Am Games, track and field athlete Gwen Berry and fencer Race Imbolden. Thursday’s recommendations were crafted via input from athletes within and outside the AAC, national governing bodies, the USOPC and other thinkers and stake-holders throughout the athletics world.

“The Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice provided its recommendation to the USOPC, NGBs, IOC and IPC in an effort to show the power and duty athletes have to build a more inclusive world through sport,” said Moushaumi Robinson, 2004 Olympic gold medalist in track and field, AAC leadership member and chair of the Council. “The Council believes the diversity of Team USA athletes is our strength, and that this recommendation can be a catalyst for change.”

Robinson expanded on those thoughts in an open letter to athletes Thursday.

The USOPC’s decision to back the Council with a lack of punishments is a big step, particularly in the face of Rule 50’s usual threat of banishment from competition and potential suspension.

“The USOPC values the voices of Team USA athletes and believes that their right to advocate for racial and social justice, and be a positive force for change, absolutely aligns with the fundamental values of equality that define Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “We thank the athlete-led Council for their thoughtful recommendations and look forward to continued collaboration on this important topic with the Council and the international community.”

Olympic Charter Rule 50 cloaks itself as protecting “the neutrality of sport and the Olympic Games” by forbidding protests or demonstrations during events, in the Olympic Village and all official ceremonies (opening, closing, medal, etc.). Among the banned protests are, “Displaying any political messaging, including signs or armbands”; “gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling;” or “Refusal to follow the Ceremonies protocol.” In light of the recent surge in athlete activism, though, Rule 50 effectively serves to silences athletes’ chances to use the maximal exposure of their platform to speak about issues larger than sport.

For the Council, the steering committees are to be activated sequentially. With recommendations on Rule 50 propagated, it turns over to a committee on “Athlete voice and advocacy,” which includes swimmer Anthony Ervin and para-swimmers Casandra Shaffer and Jamal Hill. The remit of that committee is to, “continue identifying ways in which the voices of athletes can be amplified via the various platforms in the national and international Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

“We believe that Team USA athletes, in line with athletes and teams in many other sports and leagues in the United States, can be a leading force for global good, and we are proud to advocate for the advancing opportunities and pathways for respectful athlete expression within our sports community,” said USOPC President Susanne Lyons. “Supporting this important work on behalf of Team USA athletes is a next step in our ongoing commitment to empowering the voice of athletes and living Olympic and Paralympic values. We look forward to collaborating further with our athletes, friends and partners around the world to fully harness the unifying power of sport.”

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