‘You should be allowed to express your opinion’ – Gemili criticises IOC protests stanceon May 20, 2021 at 10:44 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

British sprinter Adam Gemili believes “all hell would break loose” if athletes are banned from holding protests at this summer’s Olympics.

Adam Gemili

Current International Olympic Committee regulations do not allow protests to take place on the podium, field of play or at ceremonies during a Games.

However, Gemili accused the IOC of double standards and says he will take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter in Tokyo if he wins a medal.

“I’d definitely protest,” said Gemili.

“I think it’s a place where you should be allowed to express your opinion. I’d be very hypocritical if I’ve been talking all this talk and I wouldn’t do that myself.”

American track and field athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos protest with the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics

Gemili, a 4x100m world champion, said the IOC was being hypocritical for trying to ban protests when it has used images of 200m champion Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics raising his fist to protest about the ongoing civil rights issues in America at the time.

“This is what I don’t understand, the IOC are so quick to use Tommie Smith, the picture of him, fist raised, but then they are saying ‘actually, no one is allowed to do that’,” he added.

“It doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t think you can ban an athlete for protesting and if they do all hell would break loose and it could go south and sour very quickly. They will be very naive to even try to do that.

“The Olympics is not a place to be political, it’s a place for sport and to bring the whole world together but the whole Black Lives Matter movement is more than political.

“It’s about being a good human and equal rights for everyone is not something which should be turned away so easily like they’re doing.”

Around the BBC - SoundsAround the BBC footer - Sounds

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

House prices up 8.5% in 2020 amid tax holidayon February 17, 2021 at 11:07 am

Prices climbed at their fastest annual rate since October 2014, official figures show.UK house prices climbed 8.5% in 2020, the highest annual growth rate...

Dorset Police hunt prisoner on the run in underwear and sockson March 26, 2022 at 5:28 pm

Police say the man escaped a prison van after assaulting security officers in Poole.

Analysis: A poignant moment for talented Rashfordon November 29, 2022 at 10:30 pm

Marcus Rashford is showing his return to form after a painful road is almost complete, writes Phil McNultyHost nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December...

Man City 3-0 Brighton: City go back top with six games to playon April 20, 2022 at 9:14 pm

Manchester City restore their one-point advantage over Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with victory over a resolute Brighton.

Husband pays tribute to wife and daughters who died after fireon November 23, 2022 at 11:40 am

A man is being quizzed on suspicion of murdering Fatoumatta Hydara and her young children.Image source, Nottinghamshire PoliceA husband has paid tribute to his...