Should athletes be allow ed to protest?
Some people say sporting competitions should be about sport – and nothing else.
This summer, sport will look a little different than usual. When the Commonwealth Games take place in Birmingham in July and August, you might see athletes taking the knee at the podium in support of racial equality or doing a victory lap with a Ukrainian flag. The organisers of the Games said they are allowing protests for the first time “to strengthen the athlete’s voice”, adding, “We want to encourage the positive, not police the negative”. However, who decides if a protest is positive or negative? Big sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the football World Cups do not allow athletes to protest. Would it not be better to leave protests at the door, so the events are purely about sport? What do you think: should athletes be allowed to protest?
Yes – athletes can bring about change
The organisers of the games describe athletes as “inspirational leaders and agents of change”. That’s because sports stars are role models that can have a huge positive influence. Take footballer Marcus Rashford; his campaign against child hunger forced the Government to extend free school meals. Athletes are individuals too. They should be able to protest against issues they feel strongly about. Critics say that changing the rules will lead to an outburst of protests but there are limits in place. Symbols of hate are not allowed, nor are protests aimed at any one person, country or organisation. Human rights, such as equality, are universal, which means they should apply to everyone no matter the country or its culture.
No – protests will be a distraction
Every country differs when it comes to their culture, values and laws. Even the names given to sports differ. For example, Britons call it “football”, while Americans know it as “soccer”. However, the rules of sport remain the same. Sport unifies the world, whereas protests like these risk creating division. The two should be kept separate. If protests are allowed at big sporting events, athletes may feel pressure to campaign. This is not fair. Any athlete who wants to protest can do so – but in their own time and as a private individual. Also many causes are personal. By allowing athletes to protest, there will be arguments about what should and shouldn’t be allowed, which will detract from the competition.