Runner-up American Raven Saunders gesticulates with her silver medal on the podium after taking part in the women’s shot put at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium on Sunday. Ina Fassbender / AFP via Getty Images Hide the caption
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Ina Fassbender / AFP via Getty Images
Runner-up American Raven Saunders gesticulates with her silver medal on the podium after taking part in the women’s shot put at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
Ina Fassbender / AFP via Getty Images
TOKYO – The International Olympic Committee says it is considering a U.S. athlete’s decision to oppose a ban on protests on the medal podium in Tokyo.
US shot putter Raven Saunders briefly held her arms in the shape of an X above her head after receiving her silver medal. The ceremony was over, China’s anthem in honor of gold medalist Gong Lijiao was ready.
Saunders later stated that it was “the intersection where all oppressed people meet”.
Saunders, a black gay woman who speaks out on racism, bigotry and social justice issues, knew she was resisting Olympic organizers. You are under unprecedented pressure to end a ban on protests on the podium. Athletes and sports advocates say this violates their basic human right to freedom of expression.
In a press conference, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said they are in contact with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and World Athletics, the governing body of the Games.
“Not surprisingly, we are investigating and now thinking about our next steps,” said Adams.
Last year, USOPC announced it would not punish those who protested on the podium in response to the athletes’ demands. But the IOC only relaxed the protest rules. It continues to forbid any statement on the podium when medalists have the world’s attention, including a raised fist for social justice.
On the day of the Olympic opening ceremony, more than 150 athletes, academics and social justice advocates signed an open letter calling for changes to Rule 50, which bans protests on the podium.
“Freedom of expression is a basic human right. And the IOC’s sports rules shouldn’t be able to dictate when and where someone can speak, ”said Rob Koehler, director general of Global Athlete, an athlete-led advocacy group. “This is a violation of the UN Charter. And the IOC is an observer of the UN “
Koehler says it is also hypocritical for Olympic organizers to preach sport used for social justice and community improvement and then discourage athletes from making statements about racism and social justice in their countries.
“If you have problems in countries where there are major social and racial justice issues and you don’t allow athletes to use the platform to bring this to the fore when they have this podium,” he said. “Showing the world that things are wrong and that you can be part of the discussion and part of the change makes no sense.”
Saunders wrote on Twitter: “Let them try to get that medal. I’m running across the border even though I can’t swim.” She ended up with a laughing emoji and stuck it in the top of her feed.
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