Dina Asher-Smith Joins Fight for Athletes Right to Protest

Dina Asher-Smith , Joins Fight, for Athletes Right to Protest.

According to BBC Sports, the International Olympic Committee changed its rules to allow protests before and after events earlier in July.

According to BBC Sports, the International Olympic Committee changed its rules to allow protests before and after events earlier in July.

However, a ban on protests at ceremonies or while appearing on the podium remains in place.

However, a ban on protests at ceremonies or while appearing on the podium remains in place.

Now, athletes have petitioned for a complete lifting of sanctions.

Dina Asher-Smith, 25-year-old British sprinter favored to win 100m gold, said any punishment would be unenforceable.

If you were to penalize someone for standing up against racial inequality, how on earth would that go?

How on earth are you going to enforce that?, Dina Asher-Smith, via BBC Sports.

If you were to penalize someone for standing up against racial inequality, how on earth would that go?

How on earth are you going to enforce that?, Dina Asher-Smith, via BBC Sports.

Would you revoke someone's medal for saying racism is wrong?, Dina Asher-Smith, via BBC Sports.

The International Olympic Committee's rule 50 states:.

"No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.".

Following global anti-racism protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the IOC changed the rule.

.

Following global anti-racism protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the IOC changed the rule.

.

The committee announced that athletes can now "express their views" before and after they compete and when speaking to the media.

The committee announced that athletes can now "express their views" before and after they compete and when speaking to the media.

However, the old rule still stands during events, opening and closing ceremonies, on podiums or in the Olympic Village.

However, the old rule still stands during events, opening and closing ceremonies, on podiums or in the Olympic Village.

The athletes' petition say the change of rules fails to go far enough.

We do not believe the changes made reflect a commitment to freedom of expression as a fundamental human right nor to racial and social justice in global sport, Athlete petition to International Olympic Committee, via BBC Sports.

We do not believe the changes made reflect a commitment to freedom of expression as a fundamental human right nor to racial and social justice in global sport, Athlete petition to International Olympic Committee, via BBC Sports