America Will Not Punish Athletes Who Commit Anti-racism At The Olympics

The atmosphere as football players kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign before the match between Paris St Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir FK in the Champions League (Twitter @@ ibfk2014)

JAKARTA - The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has stated that it will not sanction athletes who demonstrate peacefully and respectfully in support of racial and social justice at the Olympics and Paralympics.

The USOPC decision came in response to a recommendation from a council seeking to amend the "50 Olympic Charter Rules" which prohibit any kind of political, religious or racial demonstration or propaganda.

"USOPC values the voices of national team athletes and believes that their right to advocate for racial and social justice, and to be a positive force for change, is completely in line with the basic values of equality," said USOPC Chief Executive Sarah Hirshland in a statement quoted by Antara. , Friday, December 11th.

But America's national team council for Racial and Social Justice insists hate speech, racist propaganda, and discriminatory comments aimed at depriving a historically marginalized population do not qualify as ethical speech.

They also asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to recognize that protests that focus on human rights and social justice should not be viewed as a nuisance and should not be treated as hate speech.

"The silencing of athletes during the Olympics stands in stark contrast to the importance of recognizing the primacy of participants as human beings and their role as athletes," the council said.

"Forbidding athletes to express their views freely during the Olympics, especially those from historically underrepresented and minority groups, is an act that goes against the core values of the Olympics and Paralympics."

The slightly postponed Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 23-August 8, 2021, while the next winter Olympics are scheduled for Beijing in 2022.