Olympic dais no spot for protests

THE majority of Australian Olympians say they are opposed to allowing athletes to protest on the podium at the Olympic Games despite growing calls for a relaxation of the rules following the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The results of the poll – the first by athletes anywhere in the world – found that while most Australian Olympians support the principle of selfexpression on social media and away from stadiums, four out of five said they were against athletes demonstrating during competition or ceremonies.

“The majority believe that protest on the field of play would detract from performance and athlete experience,” the chair of the Australian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission Steve Hooker wrote in a letter to the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

“This was not the view of every athlete of course and it is important to consider the support and guidance that can be provided to those that hold the opposing view.”

Almost 500 past, present and future Olympians took part in the survey, which will now be forwarded to the IOC Athletes’ Commission, which is investigating whether or not changes to the Olympic Charter are needed. Mr Hooker said younger athletes were more inclined to support podium protests but the overwhelming results from the poll were that demonstrations should be kept away from sporting arenas.

“In total, we received 496 responses from athletes who competed from the 1950s, through to the current cohort of athletes,” Mr Hooker wrote. “What is evident is that athlete views around freedom of expression have changed.”

Among the key recommendations made by the AOC Athletes’ Commission was that a moment of solidarity be included at the opening and closing ceremonies.

The issue of protests comes amid the “take a knee” movement in support of BLM after the death of George Floyd.

Demonstrations of any kind are prohibited at the Olympics. Mack Horton received an official reprimand after he refused to join his Chinese rival Sun Yang at the medal presentation during last year’s world championships, triggering anger from other swimmers who supported him for taking a stand against the scourge of drugs but in sport.

The Commission has begun a review into whether the rules should be amended to avoid a public relations disaster in Tokyo next year.