New Delhi,dec 13
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe says he is happy to “accommodate” athletes expressing their views against issues like racism but made it clear that such gestures should not infringe on other sportspersons’ right to celebrate their moments of glory. Top athletes across the world have expressed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which gathered steam after the death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in the USA.However, Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter bans any form of protest including taking a knee, raising a fist or refusing to follow protocol at medal ceremonies. Coe finds nothing wrong in expression of a view.
“It is pretty evident that everybody is reviewing their view about their approach within their own sport. I am very happy for the athletes if they choose to restate their opposition to discrimination or to racism in sport, anti-racist initiatives etc,” Coe said in an interaction with PTI.
”I am very happy for that to be accommodated. I am also very clear that any gesture like that or observable gesture needs to be done respectfully and fully recognising that if it is to be on the dais there are also other athletes on the dais who are celebrating their moment of achievement.”He said such expression of views should be “within a framework” and “cannot be in detriment of somebody else’s intrinsic enjoyment and celebration of their achievement”.Last Saturday, WA gave President’s Award to the iconic athletes famous for their black power pose at the 200m victory ceremony of the 1968 Olympic Games.Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood with bowed heads, black gloves and raised fists while the Australian silver medallist Peter Norman stood still in one of the most iconic images in world sport.”Athletics has consistently been in the forefront of thought leadership. It has done so in the past like by Jesse Owens in 1936 Olympics. We also had refugees team in Olympics stadium making observations about all sorts of things,” Coe said.The 64-year-old double Olympic gold-medallist was cautious when asked about the next season amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc on this year’s calendar.
