International Olympic Committee Changes Course on Protest Rule

By Alyssa Wilson Published: July 16, 2021

International Olympic Committee Changes Course on Protest Rule

FILE - In this March 24, 2020, file photo, a man is seen through the Olympic rings in front of the New National Stadium in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic organizers on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 announced a series of 18 test events set to begin in March and run into May. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

By: Alyssa Wilson

The International Olympic Committee will let Olympic athletes make gestures of protest on their field of play at the Tokyo Olympics. This is a change from Rule 50 which banned “any demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” in venues and other areas of the Olympics.

On July 2, the IOC released Rule 50.2, known as Guidelines for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. It is meant to provide “further clarity and guidance to athletes competing in Tokyo this summer on the wide range of opportunities available to them to express their views, including on the Field of Play prior to the start of the competition.”

Olympic athletes have the opportunity to express their views in the following areas:

Mixed zones, including when speaking to media
International Broadcasting Centre or the Main Media Centre
During press conferences in the venue or Main Media Centre
During interviews
Team Meetings
Traditional media or digital media
Social Media
On the field of play before the start of the competition

The guidelines also state that athletes expressing their views are expected to respect Olympic rules and values as well as their fellow athletes. “It should be recognised that any behaviour and/or expression that constitutes or signals discrimination, hatred, hostility or the potential for violence on any basis whatsoever is contrary to the Fundamental Principles of Olympism,” the rules read.

Displaying acts of protest are not allowed on the podium at medal ceremonies. Athletes will still face disciplinary action for not abiding by the rules set by the IOC.

The British women’s soccer team is set to take a knee before kickoff at the Olympics. The players have taken a stance against racism over the last year and the Black members of the men’s soccer team recently faced racial abuse online. “It is the people that don’t have a voice that we are standing up for,” Demi Stokes said. “We know we have a big part to play. It’s important we use our platforms to help in any way we can.”

The Tokyo Olympics are set to begin on July 23 and run until August 8. The city is under a state of emergency as Japan has seen a rise in COVID-19 infections. No spectators will be allowed at the arena to watch the games and athletes must follow strict safety protocols.