A global union and activist group in Germany on Thursday offered legal support to Geneva athletes protesting political or social justice at the Tokyo Olympics.

The promises came shortly after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reiterated its long-standing ban on “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” on stadiums, medal grounds or at official ceremonies.

Raising a fist or kneeling to hear the national anthem can result in punishment from the IOC. The Law Commission of the Olympic Committee should clarify what kind of punishment will take place before this year’s Games, which begin on July 23.

The IOC said while recognizing “peace”, “respect”, “solidarity”, “inclusion” and “equality” T-shirts, slogans such as “black lives matter” would not be allowed on Olympic sportswear. .

The IOC’s Athletes’ Commission cited support for upholding Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter from two-thirds of the 3,500 responses from athlete groups.

“This is exactly what was expected,” said Brendan Schwab, executive director of the World Players’ Association. “The Olympic movement understands its own history as better than that of athletes.”

In a telephone interview with Australia, Schwab told the Associated Press: “Any athlete licensed at the Tokyo Olympics will have the full support of world athletes.”

The independent team representing the German athletes offered legal support to their national team.

“If German athletes decide to peacefully uphold peaceful basic values, such as the fight against racism at the Olympic Games, they can rely on the legal support of athlete Germany,” said Group CEO Johannes Herber in a statement.

Another category of athletes, the Global Athlete, said in a statement that “outdated sports laws should not be allowed to replace your basic human rights.” Survey methods are incorrect.

Karad O’Donoghue, a karate athlete from Ireland who helped find the global athlete, said: “Such votes need to be allowed and heard by a majority.

When the IOC said that cases would be divided on the basis of merit, athletes who followed the greetings of American sprinters Tommy Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics could be sent home.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee inaugurated Smith and Carlos in 2019 at its Hall of Fame. Protesters at the Olympic trial in Tokyo promised in December that no action would be taken against the athletes. In response to the IOC’s decision, they announced in a statement on Thursday that they would not change their plan to update the recently published protest policy.

We do not pledge to increase the number of athletes and marginalized people everywhere to support race and social justice, ”said CEO Sarah Hirschland.

The USOPC Athlete Group also issued a statement saying it was disappointed not to see a “meaningful or effective change” to govern 50.

“Until the IOC changes its approach to nurturing or maintaining the myth of sports neutrality, the number of marginalized athletes will remain silent,” the athlete group leaders said in a statement.

Schwab and Herber said the IOC would protect minorities from discrimination if they expressed human rights for athletes.

Schwab said the IOC had made a mistake in trying to control the venue of the protest instead of the content of the declaration, and that freedom of speech for Olympic athletes should be “respected, protected, and really promoted.”

Athletes violating Rule 50 may be licensed by three bodies: the IOC, their sports association, and their National Olympic Committee (NOC).

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, leaders of the two largest Olympic bodies, have spoken out publicly against punishing their athletes for declaring social justice. Last December, Co presented his annual award to Peter Norman of Australia and Smy, Carlos and fellow sprinter at the 200m event in Mexico City.

In the past, the NOC has played an important role in licensing athletes who violate Olympic rules. When the USOPC stepped down, Schwab commented that “there is a great deal of confusion about the responsibility for sanctions.”

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