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Rule 50 & the Muhammad Ali Center

Athlete Expression: Rule 50

Racism or any form of discrimination has no place in sport. The IOC AC launched a consultation on athlete expression to gather feedback from the athlete community on how the IOC, Olympic Games, and the Olympic Movement can amplify the voices of athletes and ultimately better support our efforts to tackle racism and discrimination.

Through The Muhammad Ali Center Athletes and Social Change Forum (2021)

As a call for leadership that centers a commitment to human rights and provides all athletes with human dignity and fundamental human rights, the letter asks the IOC/IPC, IOC Athletes Commission, and IPC Athletes Council to do the following:

1. For the Tokyo and Beijing Games, refrain from imposing sanctions on athletes protesting and demonstrating in accordance with internationally-recognized human rights frameworks in any Olympic/Paralympic sites, venues or other areas – including the podium. These frameworks protect protests in support of racial and social justice (e.g., kneeling, raising one’s fist). They do not protect hate speech or protests/demonstrations discriminatory in nature.
2. Upon conclusion of the Beijing Games, commit to a comprehensive review of IOC Rule 50/IPC Section 2.2 in collaboration with the IOC Advisory Committee on Human Rights and independent human rights experts to align the rule with internationally-recognized human rights frameworks, as outlined in the letter. This review should pay close attention to the wording used in IOC Rule 50/IPC Section 2.2, particularly to the use of “racial propaganda” in this context. We recommend removing this language from the rules.
3. Amend the Athletes’ Rights & Responsibilities Declaration in accordance with internationally-recognized human rights frameworks, as outlined in the letter.
4. Adopt an Eighth Principle of Olympism focused specifically on human rights (see the October 2019 proposal of Athletes CAN, Athletes Germany, Global Athlete, the New Zealand Athletes Federation, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Athletes Advisory Council).

To learn more, the full-length letter, including a list of signatories, supporting organizations, and athlete supporters, can be accessed below:

The SJSU Legacy of Athlete Activism

From student-athlete to activist-scholar, Dr. Harry Edwards’ life and work demonstrate that sport is a window to society, revealing a broad range of social and political concerns that affect us all. His devotion to the cause of human rights spans decades—and serves as an inspiration for activists and athletes everywhere. In 1967, Dr. Edwards became the architect of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). This project was created to highlight and protest racism and segregation in sports, and led to the iconic image of two Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos, raising their fists during their medal ceremony.

The timeless appeal of Tommie Smith, who knew a podium could be a site of protest. - by Adam Bradley (2021 April 6)

In 1968, he and John Carlos raised their fists during an Olympic medal ceremony. Their demonstration still inspires athletes, artists and marginalized people everywhere.

The Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) Boycott

Harry Edwards and Ken Noel founded the OPHR at San José State University in 1967 to advocate for a boycott of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. As Edwards wrote in The Black Scholar in 1979, “the project had four main objectives:

1. To stage . . . an international protest of the persistent and systematic violation of black people’s human rights in the United States;
2. To expose . . . America’s historical exploitation of black athletes as political propaganda tools in both the national and international arenas;
3. To establish a standard . . . of political responsibility among black athletes vis-a-vis the needs and interests of the black community, and to devise effective and acceptable ways by which athletes could accommodate the demands of such responsibilities; and
4. To make . . . the black community aware of the substantial ‘hidden’ dynamics and consequences of their sports involvement.”

High Flying Bird | Film in Revolt

In the midst of a pro basketball lockout, sports agent Ray Burke (André Holland) finds himself caught in the face-off between the league and the players. His career is on the line, but Ray is playing for higher stakes. With only 72 hours to pull off a daring plan, he outmaneuvers all the power-players as he uncovers a loophole that could change the game forever. The outcome raises questions of who owns the game – and who ought to. Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) from a script by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) HIGH FLYING BIRD features an acclaimed ensemble cast that includes Zazie Beetz, Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan and Bill Duke, plus appearances from NBA athletes Reggie Jackson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell.

Hint: Watch to the End . . .