Athletes choosing to kneel or lift their fists in protest of racial injustice at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics will face punishment from the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC's Rule 50 prohibits any “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” inside Olympic venues. Athletes' Commission Chief Kirsty Coventry said athletes the IOC consulted on the rule were against protests in stadiums or on the podium:
“I would not want something to distract from the Tokyo Olympics and take away from that. That is how I still feel today,” Coventry said, via Karolos Grohmann of Reuters.
There have been growing calls for leniency with respect to Rule 50, including from various international federation chiefs.
However, Coventry said the consultation of more than 3,500 athletes led to the IOC concluding Rule 50 would be maintained. She added 70 percent of athletes said they did not want protests as part of official proceedings:
When asked, however, if athletes would be punished at the Tokyo Olympics for making political statements such as taking a knee on the podium in support of racial equality, Coventry said: “Yes that is correct.”
“That is also because of the majority of athletes we spoke to. That is what they are requesting for,” Coventry said.
The IOC's Executive Board did approve some recommendations Wednesday, including changing some of the wording of the Olympic Oath to better reflect a message of inclusion.
Athletes will also be allowed to wear apparel with certain messages, which sounds similar to how the NBA handled messaging during the “bubble” in Orlando.
However, unlike the NBA, athletes at the Tokyo Olympics will not be afforded the chance to kneel or raise a fist with impunity.
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