Olympic greats call on IOC to allow podium protests
CNN
Over 150 athletes, sports organizations, human rights and social justice experts have signed an open letter calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow athletes the "fundamental human right" to protest, including at the podium.
As the Tokyo Games open, the signatories -- including US hammer thrower Gwen Berry as well as 1968 medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who famously raised gloved fists on the podium -- have urged the IOC to "refrain" from sanctioning athletes who demonstrate. The letter calls for the removal of the IOC's Rule 50 ban, which prohibits athletes from protesting at Olympic sites.Venezuelan authorities are investigating opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for alleged treason after she expressed support for a US bipartisan bill that seeks to block Washington from doing business with any entity that has commercial ties with the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
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