Coe supports athletes' right to take knee on Olympic podium
Sebastian Coe has repeated his support for the right of athletes at next year's Tokyo Olympics to “take the knee” on the medal podium to protest social or racial injustice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sebastian Coe stood at the edge of the track at Tokyo s new National Stadium on Thursday. Dressed in a blue suit and speaking in a light drizzle, he repeated his support for the right of athletes to advocate for social or racial justice at next year's postponed Tokyo Olympics.
“I’ve been very clear that if an athlete chooses to take the knee on a podium then I’m supportive of that,” Coe said, giving a boost to Black Lives Matter protests and other social- and racial-justice movements that are determined to use Tokyo as a stage.
Coe is speaking out in direct opposition to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter that says "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
Coe is not just any voice. He's an International Olympic Committee member, a two-time Olympic gold-medal winner, and the head of the world governing body of track and field known as World Athletics.
He also headed the 2012 London Olympics.
“Athletes are a part of the world and they want to reflect the world they live in,” Coe said. "For me, that part is perfectly acceptable as long as it is done with respect -- complete respect -- for other competitors, which I think most athletes properly understand.”
The Tokyo Games had to be postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Coe is in the Japanese capital on a courtesy visit to Tokyo Olympics organizers. He met with its president Yoshiro Mori and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.
Tokyo is also the headquarters for the giant advertising company Dentsu Inc., which has been a major backer of World Athletics.
Coe pitched Tokyo as a possible venue for a future World Athletics world championship. Tokyo held the worlds in 1991, and Osaka was the host city in 2007.
“We don’t know what will happen in the next few months,” Coe said. "We are absolutely committed to work with the organizing committee for the delivery of a fantastic games. There may have to be some adaptations. There may need to be some differences. But I’m absolutely convinced that even under those circumstances they will still be fantastic games.”
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports