Kneeling, raising fist during national anthem allowed at U.S. Olympic trials

Athletes at the United States Olympic trials will be allowed to take part in racial and social justice demonstrations, including taking a knee during the national anthem.

Guidance was issued Tuesday by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee on what should and should not be allowed at the trials, which will determine who represents the country at this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

“The USOPC values the expressions of Team USA athletes and believes that their right to advocate for racial and social justice aligns with the fundamental values of equality that define Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said.

Athletes can kneel during the anthem or hold up their fist on the podium. The latter was famously done as a Black Power salute by track-and-field athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City.

Wearing a hat with phrases such as “Black Lives Matter” or “Trans Lives Matter,” or words such as “equality” or “respect” will also be allowed. Furthermore, the committee is letting athletes speak about equity and equal rights for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color individuals, or other historically underrepresented, marginalized or minoritized populations.”

Athletes will be also encouraged to use their voice through the press and social media to support causes they believe in, according to the committee.

The committee will not allow American athletes to wear clothing with hate symbols or hate speech, nor will they be permitted to make hand gestures to the effect. They will also not be allowed to take part in violent protests or deface the American flag.

The International Olympic Committee, however, will not allow some of the demonstrations that will be permitted in the United States. Protests of a political nature are not permitted at all Olympic venues, the IOC said.