Athlete protests remain banned at Tokyo Olympics, says IOC

That means raising a fist on the podium or taking a knee would still risk punishment at the Tokyo Games this year.

Athlete protests and political messages will remain banned at the Olympics, the IOC said, after a survey found that a majority of competitors were in favour of keeping the ban in place. That means raising a fist on the podium — like American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously did at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics — or taking a knee would still risk punishment at the Tokyo Games this year. The IOC said it surveyed more than 3,500 athletes over the past year and that 70% said it was “not appropriate to demonstrate or express their views” on the field of play or at the opening or closing ceremony.