The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee has cautioned the athletes who made political gestures during the recent Pan-Am Games in Lima. In a letter sent last Tuesday by USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland, it was made clear that future protests would face stricter consequences.
Moving forward, Hirshland stated that simply giving warnings to athletes in similar situations would not be enough.
This decision follows the actions of Gwen Berry, a hammer thrower, and Race Imboden, a fencer, who protested at the Pan-Am Games by raising a fist and kneeling during the medal ceremony respectively, to highlight social issues. While both athletes have been placed on 12-month probations, they will still be able to participate in the next year’s Olympics.
Shortly after his protest in Lima, Peru, Imboden tweeted about the importance of addressing issues such as racism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants, and the divisive rhetoric of the current president.
With the upcoming Tokyo Olympics happening amidst a heated presidential election, Hirshland expressed her understanding of the athletes’ viewpoints while emphasizing the importance of respecting the established rules and reasons behind them.
Both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and USOPC enforce regulations prohibiting political demonstrations at the Olympics. Athletes are required to acknowledge these rules and agree not to breach them before competing.
The tone of Hirshland’s statement suggests that there may be stricter consequences for future violations of the rules.
For further information, you can visit the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics To Kick-Off On July 24th With New Sports.
