PR Week: IOC urged to rethink Olympic protests ban

The Olympic movement should soften its position on political protests in the wake of the of Black Lives Matter movement or risk being viewed as out of touch, sports marketing and talent management experts warn.

Under current rules, athletes that ‘take a knee’ in solidarity with anti-racism protests during the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games next year could face a ban, despite other sporting bodies – including FIFA and the NFL – removing sanctions in the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death and the anti-racism marches it has triggered.

Yesterday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said consultations between athletes’ groups around the world were under way.

“The IOC Executive Board supports the initiative of the IOC athletes’ commission to explore different ways for athletes to express support for the principles enshrined in the Olympic charter in a dignified way,” Bach said at a news conference.

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter bans political protests during the Olympic Games as the IOC positions the Olympic movement as being free of political, religious or any other type of interference.

However, the outrage sparked by Floyd’s death and the groundswell of solidarity, including from many high-profile athletes – could force the IOC to allow some forms of peaceful protest.

Calacus managing director David Alexander believes the protests represent a golden opportunity for the Olympic movement to live up to its own ideals.

“Clearly, if athletes take the knee en masse as has been demonstrated by a wide range of other sports in recent days, the IOC Disciplinary Commission could find themselves particularly busy unless they relax their rules,” he said, pointing out that the IOC has left the door open to compromise.

“What greater opportunity to promote the inclusivity of the Olympic movement, its belief in creating a 'better world' than by supporting and collaborating with the campaign to ensure equality for all.”

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