Anticipating athletes making political statements during the Olympics — such as taking a knee or fist-pumping in the air — the International Olympic Committee says athletes would be punished if they ignored the rule banning all political gestures.
Quoting the IOC Rule 50 which forbids ‘demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda, ‘ they indicated that the majority of athletes they spoke to agreed.
‘That is also because of the majority of athletes we spoke to. That is what they are requesting for,’ said the IOC’s Kirsty Coventry.
Olympic fencer Race Imboden and hammer-thrower Gwen Berry were put on a 12-month probation on Wednesday for protesting on the medal stand this month at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Some international federation chiefs, including World Athletics’ President Sebastian Coe, have said that athletes should have the right to make gestures of political protest during the Games.
The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, kick off on July 23.