The International Olympic Committee’s Rule 50 Continues to Suppress Athletes’ Rights to Freedom of Expression

21 April 2021: The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) archaic approach to limiting athletes’ rights to freedom of expression is another sign of an outdated sport system that continues to suppress athletes’ fundamental rights. The competitors are humans first, athletes second.

We acknowledge that the IOC conducted a survey among athlete groups. Global Athlete had the IOC’s survey independently reviewed by several social science research experts that concluded the research methodology was both leading and flawed.

“One cannot survey how people feel about human rights and freedom of expression. These types of surveys only empower the majority when it is the minority that want and need to be heard. Once again, the IOC has favoured suppression over expression,” said Irish Karate Athlete, World Champion Kickboxer and Global Athlete Start Up Athlete Member, Caradh O’Donovan.

Today’s recommendations further dictates when, where, and what athletes can speak. This is the opposite to freedom of expression.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of expression; this right includes freedom to impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” The Olympic podium is a media of communication to the world, and the Olympic frontier cannot be a barrier to human rights.

Global Athlete hopes every athlete attending the Olympic and Paralympic Games uses the United Nations Human Rights Declaration to guide their decision on when and where to exercise their right to stand for social and racial injustice. Do not allow outdated “sport rules” to supersede your basic human rights.

-ENDS-