The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has warned its athletes against using Olympic podiums as a location for protests in Tokyo next year.
According to the Daily Telegraph, in spite of Mack Horton receiving support from Swimming Australia to continue his podium protests, the AOC has taken a different tact.
“The Australian Olympic Committee respects the rights of athletes to hold convictions and to express those convictions, AOC CEO Matt Carroll said. “But the medal podium at the Olympic Games is not the place to express personal views on any matter regardless of their merit. The joy and significance of that moment should be respected by all and not be denied to any athlete. There are other forums where views can be expressed without negatively impacting on fellow athletes.”
In the past, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a decision by the IOC to strip a medal from Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian in 2008 after protesting a refereeing decision.
The Telegraph also reports that Mack Horton was short-listed to become one of Coca Cola’s national ambassadors for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Telegraph’s headline and editorialization appear to connect Coca Cola’s decision to choose another athlete (wheelchair basketball and tennis star Dylan Alcott) over Horton to his podium protest, but they never mention any source on connecting the two. The Telegraph did report that Coca-Cola says that not selecting Horton was unrelated to his podium protests.
Sun is being featured in Coca-Cola’s Olympic campaign in China.
Australian swimmer Mack Horton abstained from podium festivities and refused to take photos with Sun Yang when he took second to the Chinese star in the 400 free at Worlds. Sun is currently facing a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in September to decide his fate after a vial of his blood was allegedly intentionally smashed in the presence of a drug tester in September 2018. While Horton and Sun have a history that goes back to the Rio Olympics, when Horton called Sun a “drug cheat,” Great Britain’s Duncan Scott (who does not have such a history), followed suit, also refusing to shake hands and take pictures with Sun on the 200 free podium.
If Mack Horton had won the gold medal, and Sun Yang won the silver, then the podium protest would not have happened
…………… That . Would. Be Because Then. The. Person. Who. Broke The. Vials. Did. Not. Win. Hence. Not. Shortchanging. Other. Athletes
Mack Horton is just a sore loser. He knew full well Sun Yang has been cleared by FINA, but decided to continue to make unfounded accusation against Sun.
You can think what you want . You’re wrong but it’s no use arguing . He’s not a sore loser in any way shape or form . It’s a ridiculous statement .
Horton knew full well Yang was cleared of any drug tests for competition, but continue to protest based on his own unfounded suspicion. He is a paranoid and probably a racist on top of being a sore loser.
Another way to describe it is called “Anglo Pride”. Many Anglos really think they own the sports and anyone else who beat them are suspected of cheating. The best example is 1972 men’s Olympic basketball. Soviets won fair and square, and team USA staged a podium protest as they couldn’t imagine losing in a sport that they “owned”. Mack Horton’s podium protest was just continuing a long line of Anglo tradition.
What’s Sun Yang’s favorite cheat meal?
Steroids
How about SHAYNA JACK’s ?
Shouldn’t we be focusing on the cheaters…..and not the response to the cheaters?
No really? What a radical idea!
These athletes will never have a bigger platform than at the Olympics, particularly if they can medal in an event. To tell them not to politicize something in that moment is to take away their ability to actually make themselves heard. I don’t think the situations are remotely equivalent, but I’m sure there were governing bodies that were very upset in 68 when Tommy Smith and John Carlos did the black power salute on the podium. They were literally booed leaving the podium, but simply speaking to the press afterwards would not have had the same impact as the actions they took.
A problem with podium protests is that there are other ppl on the podium . Both Horton & Scott tried to ‘convince’ the others to join them . Do you want medallists having to run the gauntlet of agreeing/ disagreeing with somebody’s opinion on the way to the podium? Cannot they enjoy their time & be able to stand up unfettered by anothers angst antics?
There are occasional instances of podium tantrums because the athlete did not agree with the result. Ive also seen some where the athlete barely kept it together acknowledging certainflags/ anthems but all in all its rare.
Perhaps they could designate a Protest Zone where medallists can parade around with placards . Or a… Read more »
They have to get to the podium first .
Will be interesting to see where the British Olympic Committee stand on this issue.
Given the issues around Brexit, prorogation, Scottish independence, NI etc. I’d imagine they’ll take the same stance.
With domestic political tensions so high, there’s a significant risk podium protests are political rather than anti-doping.
What about the significance of the integrity of the sport? Obviously not that important to the administrators.
Where’s the money in that?
All I really got from this article is free advertising for Coca Cola .. everything else hasn’t changed in terms of drugs in sport ..
I think it speaks volumes when the focus turns to corporate dollars which could be jeopardised when you “tarnish” the event by protesting