Athletes will be allowed to kneel, raise fists during national anthem at US Olympic trials

In 1968, two American Olympians, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, shocked the world when they raised their fists and bowed their heads while the US national anthem played during their medal ceremony at the Mexico City games.

A spokesman for the International Olympic Committee at the time said the gesture was “a deliberate and violent breach of the fundamental principles of the Olympic spirit.”

But times have changed.

This week the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) released guidance on demonstration participation rules describing acceptable and unacceptable “racial and social justice demonstrations.”

Importantly, Athletes will NOT be sanctioned by the USOPC for engaging in a racial or social justice demonstration at trials – as long as they are within acceptable guidelines.

Acceptable demonstrations would be those “specifically aimed at promoting the human dignity of individuals or groups that have historically been underrepresented, minoritized, or marginalized in their respective societal context” using speech or body gestures, or messages communicated via clothing or signs.

The USOPC offers these examples of acceptable demonstrations:

> Wearing a hat with phrases such as “Black Lives Matter” or “Trans Lives Matter” or words such “equality” or “respect”
> Orally advocating for equity/equal rights for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, or other historically underrepresented, marginalized or minoritized populations
> Holding up one’s fist at the start line or on the podium
> Kneeling on the podium or at the start line during the national anthem

On the other hand, the USPOC said these things would be unacceptable:

> Wearing a hat with a hate symbol or hate speech on it
> Making hand gestures affiliated with hate groups
> Violent protests that cause damage or hurt others
> Defacing, distorting or causing physical harm to a national flag
> Protests aimed explicitly against a specific organization, person or group of people

In its introduction to the policy, the committee says “The USOPC values the expressions of Team USA athletes and believes that their right to advocate for racial and social justice aligns with the fundamental values of equality that define Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

Two points here, whether one agrees with this particular freedom of expression or not…

1. Who says there’s “equality” at the Olympics, or in any sporting competition at all? There’s zero equality – that’s why gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded. Because athletic performance and achievement is inherently unequal. In the finals, at the moment it matters most, someone will be highest, fastest, or deemed best.

2. Why is it that we must now have racial and social justice demonstrations basically everywhere people gather? It’s not just sporting events, but concerts and awards shows, advertising campaigns — even fashion shows. Seems like we can’t do ANYthing anymore just for the sake of doing it. Nothing is immune.

It used to be that people wouldn’t do anything without first asking God’s blessing.

Now we can’t do anything without the blessing of the woke.