World champions Duncan Scott and Adam Peaty both spoke out for athletes’ rights to protest on the Olympic podium as the IOC’s Rule 50 remains in the news.
The IOC (International Olympic Committee)’s Rule 50 governs athlete expression at the Olympic Games, and currently outlaws athlete protests or demonstrations in any Olympic sites or venues – that notably includes protests on the field of play and on the podium. Athletes and observers have sharply criticized the rule and called for changes. Most recently, Rule 50 came back into world headlines as the IOC Athletes Commission released their recommendations for changing the rule, but notably recommended that protests remain banned on the Olympic podium.
“In the quantitative study, a clear majority of athletes said that it is not appropriate to demonstrate or express their views on the field of play (70% of respondents), at official ceremonies (70% of respondents) or on the podium (67% of respondents),” the IOC Athletes Commission report said.
But Peaty, the 2016 Olympic champion in the 100 breaststroke, said athletes should be allowed to protest without the fear of fines or punishment.
“I think that people do have the right to protest and have the right to do it where they want. I don’t think we should fine them for expressing their opinions,” Peaty told reporters, according to Reuters. “It’s like me now, I wouldn’t want to be fined for saying it. But it’s everything with balance.”
British swimmer Scott was notably part of a much-publicized podium protest at the 2019 World Championships. After the 200 freestyle final, Scott (who tied for the bronze medal) refused to share the podium with or shake the hand of gold medalist Sun Yang. Sun, who represents China, has previously served a ban for doping and was (and remains) in limbo of another ban for an altercation with doping control agents at a different test.
“There has got to be a reason why somebody would want to protest,” Scott said in the Reuters story. “They are not just going to do it for anything. I don’t know what people want to do on the podium, but crack on.”
Great Britain’s Olympic chief Mark England says the nation will be in an open dialogue with athletes to find a workable option for athletes who wish to protest.
“We’ll listen to what they have to say and want to do,” he said. “It’s really important we find an avenue and a route for those athletes across the team who wish to protest against whatever issue may be close to their heart.”
Podium protests should be allowed, but only if its deserved. If someone won a medal who was homophobic or racist, do your protest and not stand on the podium with them. But we all know doping in swimming/sport is (sadly) common with many athletes doing things they shouldn’t be, but not getting caught. The real issue is with WADA. The hypocrisy is real when someone is preaching about not showing swimmers respect/not standing on the podium, when either them or their team mates are doing things they shouldn’t be and/or getting caught doping.
If an athlete works for their whole life and decides to use their moment of glory to speak for a cause they believe in, who are the rest of us to judge?
Its time for people to realize that athletes, entertainers actors etc aren’t one dimensional and can be both athletes and have opinions on a wide range topics.
If you work all your life for a platform why shouldn’t you use it?
Some very bizarre responses to a post I put up earlier such as, if I don’t support podium protests then I therefore support drug cheats. Very stupid. The podium is where you stand to receive your medal and the winner gets to hear their national anthem. That’s it. That’s what it’s for. If someone wants to protest, well the can do so to the media or on their social media, or release a statement through their governing body, etc. Maybe they even want to make a peaceful protest and burn down or smash up someone’s small business as is the custom today. But leave the sport out of it. Viewing figures have dropped because of how politicized sport has become.… Read more »
Agreed. We should recognize that there are situations when/where the dignity of the occasion requires a suppression of actions or statements that would draw the attention to an individual. I would consider the medal ceremony such an occasion. However, I would consider the introduction of the individual racer to the crowd an occasion when a personal social or political action statement would be appropriate as the individual is the focus at that time.
Go ahead and break the rules and lose the medals!
Some of the most famous Olympic images are of protest…banning it seems stupid
The Olympics going woke is the last thing it needs.
Supporter of Sun Yang I see.
The spirit of the Olympics is sportsmanship, there is nothing sporting about cheating
As well protesting on a podium is low class.
On issues of state such as Arabic athletes refusing to take the podium alongside Israeli athletes or vice versa I’d agree, but in the case of an individual being a known cheater (and bad sport, per the 2015 warm up pool incident) I don’t think refusing to take the podium is low class, but rather shows class. I’m positive many athletes will stand happily beside Russian or Chinese athletes on the podium provided they have been proven clean, but I know I’d be less than thrilled to share the podium with someone who had been the subject of heavy PED related scrutiny
pretty sure cheating is lower class but whatever justifies your viewpoint I guess
Why you scared of protest?
Just race.
“Shut up and dribble” hey?!
But if a swimmer dribbles, is it even noticeable?
Dribbling on the podium is definitely out of the question.
i though Scott stood on the podium? But didn’t shake Yang’s hand or join in the photo