House Republicans ‘deeply concerned’ about US Olympic athletes protesting

More than three dozen Republican House members have penned a letter to the US Olympic Committee to express their concerns about American athletes holding political protests at the Summer Games in Tokyo — singling out hammer thrower Gwen Berry, who turned away as the national anthem was played during the national trials last month.

The 39 Republicans wrote to US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Chair Susanne Lyons and CEO Sarah Hirshland, urging them to comply with Rule 50 of the International Olympic Committee’s charter that prohibits political expression by athletes, Fox News reported on Thursday.  “We are deeply concerned by the growing trend of American athletes taking advantage of the international platform afforded by the Olympic games to perpetuate divisive, hateful and anti-American ideologies,” the letter signed by the 39 Republicans said.