The Athletics Association Board call for Rule 50 change.
17 July 2020 The Board of the Athletics Association are adding our voices to the calls around the world for the IOC to make changes to Rule 50 - changes that would allow athletes to exercise their basic human right to peacefully protest against social injustices in the world, without punishment or sanctions.
For too long athletes have been powerless and without a real voice. 52 years after Tommie Smith and John Carlos, supported by Peter Norman, peacefully protested on the medal podium following the 200 metres, very little has changed. 52 years and the systemic racism that Tommie Smith and John Carlos were protesting against is still destroying communities and lives all over the world. And yet, athletes today have been warned that if they peacefully protest then they too will face sanctions and risk being disqualified or suspended.
We strongly believe that if athletes are protesting in the spirit of Olympism, then to punish them for these peaceful protests goes against what the Olympics is supposed to represent and encourage. The IOC defines Olympism as “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
It’s clear that the IOC’s Rule 50 is not fit for purpose and is in fact preventing athletes from displaying Olympism at the Olympic Games. We call on the IOC to make changes to the Rule ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games that are due to take place in 2021.
We also call on National Olympic Committees around the world to support the athletes that represent their countries on the world’s biggest sporting stage, by guaranteeing that any athlete that peacefully protests in the spirit of Olympism will face no sanctions or punishment.
The Athletics Association Board.
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