大象传媒

An important debate is brewing about free speech at the Olympics. After years of the International Olympic Committee restricting the free expression of athletes at the Games, some prominent athletes are calling for the unlimited right to speak freely鈥攊ncluding the right to protest.

The advocates include Canadian decathlete Damien Warner, an Olympic bronze medalist in 2016, : 鈥淚f there鈥檚 something on their mind, then athletes should be allowed to speak.鈥� The IOC, he said, is 鈥渙n the wrong side of history.鈥� The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Olympic Advisory Committee .

In response, the IOC has  on 鈥渁dvertising, demonstrations, and propaganda鈥� to allow free speech in interviews and meetings, but has stood firm on the prohibitions against 鈥減olitical鈥� statements on the field of play and during ceremonies. The committee threatens to .

Understanding Rule 50

The IOC Athletes鈥� Commission , saying it believes 鈥渢he focus at the Olympic Games must remain on athletes鈥� performances, sport, and the international unity and harmony that the Olympic Movement seeks to advance.鈥�

But another of the recommendations from the Athletes鈥� Commission, after a survey and consultation process, was to 鈥渋ncrease opportunities for athletes鈥� expression during the Games.鈥�

鈥淭he feedback was that they didn鈥檛 want it to interfere with the competition itself, so ensuring that the competition itself was protected,鈥� , a double gold medalist in the trampoline and chair of Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes Commission.

In worldwide polling, Rule 50 has won the support of most athletes for this position. The Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes Commission has reported that 80% of surveyed athletes supported the rule.

Growing Athlete Activism

The push for free speech is an artifact of growing athlete activism in recent years in response to racism in European soccer, the unrelenting police violence against Black people and other minorities in countries like the United States, and Chinese human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.

At the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, two American athletes, fencer Race Imboden and hammer thrower Gwen Berry,  鈥渞acism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants, and a president who spreads hate鈥� back home.

For many years, Rule 50 completely prohibited athletes鈥� critical statements or demonstrations at games鈥攁nd sporting bodies compelled their athletes to comply and athletes went along with it.

The style was epitomized by basketball superstar Michael Jordan, who famously  鈥渂ecause Republicans buy shoes too.鈥�

When the Canadian skier Laurie Graham likened herself to a cruise missile flying down the hill to a World Cup victory, I asked her not to use a metaphor of death and destruction for a peaceful activity like sport. She quickly agreed, which thrilled me. But then she said that she didn鈥檛 want to get in trouble with her sponsors, who told her to avoid controversy.

The Need to Speak Out

As a competitor in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics who wrote a widely syndicated student newspaper column from the Olympic Village, I fully support the right to free speech. I have always believed that athletes should take responsibility for the circumstances and sports in which they are involved and they cannot do that without the right to speak out.

Athletes should be able to wear personal signifiers, such as Indigenous sashes or rainbow fingernail polish, both of which have been allowed or banned from competitions and ceremonies at different times.

Free speech is an internationally established human right. It鈥檚 not something that should be conferred or denied by a vote. The majority should never be able to silence the minority.

I still subscribe to  that 鈥渋f all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.鈥�

The intercultural education cherished by the  would be enhanced by completely free speech. We can鈥檛 be hectoring others about what we believe, but we do need to be honest about who we are.

I鈥檝e spoken in China about athletes鈥� rights. While few agreed with me, no one was shocked. They listened. So did I. The IOC should embrace and support such interactions and tell authoritarian hosts that this is what the Olympics are about.

What Will the Punishment Be?

If some athletes still decide to protest in Tokyo or at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and are punished, that punishment will become the issue. I would be horrified by a repeat of 1968, when the IOC expelled U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos from the Mexico Olympics for protesting against poverty and racism from the victory podium鈥攊n effect banning them for upholding the Olympic aspirations.

With all the challenges facing Tokyo and Beijing, it鈥檚 unlikely that Rule 50 will be reconsidered before both Games take place. But the issue won鈥檛 go away, and I would like to think the final restrictions will be abolished by the Paris Olympics in 2024.

In the meantime, athletes such as MacLennan, who regularly consults Canadian athletes, should take advantage of the opening provided by the IOC consultation to push for ongoing athlete engagement and athlete-centered reforms on an international basis鈥攊ncluding much more significant athlete voice and vote on decision-making bodies.

Once in-person meetings resume, athletes should revive the former practice of open meetings in the Olympic Village where they can introduce and discuss the issues most on their minds鈥攊ncluding the geopolitical issues that buffet the Games.

If athletes had a genuine opportunity to become involved in sport governance and public policy, they would have far less reason to demonstrate.

Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, always saw the Olympics as a pedagogical project and athletes as the self-actualizing subjects of their activity and learning. If athletes are to learn, they need to learn to deal with political and intercultural issues and when and how to speak out.

The IOC should embrace free speech as a contribution to its highest goals.

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