Canadian athletes asking for additional meaningful opportunities to celebrate unity and inclusion at Games

TORONTO (September 21, 2020) – On Monday, the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (COC AC) shared its recommendations for Rule 50 as part of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (IOC AC) consultation process with athletes from around the world.

The COC AC consulted with the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission and other Athletes’ Commissions to inform its approach and process to gauge the views of Canadian athletes and determine its recommendations. 

“The IOC Athletes’ Commission and IOC are open to the possibility of making changes to Rule 50. Our recommendations are a part of their broader process that will see many National Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commissions and global athlete community members contributing,” said two-time Olympic champion in trampoline and COC AC Vice-Chair, Rosie MacLennan. “Before making our recommendations, we solicited a wide range of feedback from as many stakeholders as possible to balance the varying points of view, communicate the majority perspective and highlight where Canadian athletes did not have strong collective perspectives.”

The COC AC undertook a three-pronged consultation process consisting of one-on-one athlete outreach, a public webinar and Q&A open to all National Team athletes as well as a survey distributed to all Canadian athletes through, and in concert with, AthletesCAN. With the results indicating Canadian athletes’ views spread across a spectrum from maintaining Rule 50 in its current form to its complete abolition, recommendations were only made in instances where there was a clear majority. 

The COC AC’s seven recommendations to the IOC AC is to amend Rule 50 as follows:

1. Establish two separate rules when expressing views: One regarding expressions through commercial matters such as emblems, advertising and commercial installations and the other regarding Demonstrations, Protests and Propaganda.
    
2. Clearly define the terms used within Rule 50 including what constitutes a Demonstration or “Protest” or “Propaganda.”
    
3. Establish provisions for what is viewed as an acceptable Demonstration based on the values and principles of Olympism.
    
4. Establish clear parameters for an acceptable Demonstration that is peaceful and respectful of other athletes and countries.
    
5. Maintain and/or establish neutral or protected spaces that allow for a peaceful Demonstration that do not interfere with competition.
    
6. Clearly define and outline the consequences and the “degrees of violation” around Demonstration, Protest and Propaganda.
    
7. Explore other opportunities to meaningfully celebrate unity and inclusion by taking a stand against racism and discrimination.

“Based on our findings, our recommendations focus on asking for more clarity and advocating for the IOC Athletes’ Commission to explore and define meaningful ways to peacefully protest or demonstrate while respecting other athletes and countries, ensuring non-interference with competition and protecting from demonstrations contrary to the values of Olympism or that are otherwise harmful, misleading, discriminatory or based on hate,” said two-time Olympian and COC AC Chair Oluseyi Smith. “We will continue to work closely with the IOC Athletes’ Commission and encourage all Canadian athletes to participate in their global survey launching this fall.”

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter provides a framework to protect the neutrality of sport and the Olympic Games. It states that:

1. Except as may be authorised by the IOC Executive Board on an exceptional basis, no form of advertising or other publicity shall be allowed in and above the stadia, venues and other competition areas which are considered as part of the Olympic sites. Commercial installations and advertising signs shall not be allowed in the stadia, venues or other sports grounds.
    
2. No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.

The full report by the COC Athletes’ Commission on their recommendations for Rule 50 can be found here.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Philippe Marquis
Two-time Olympian and Member, COC Athletes’ Commission
C: 418-932-8289
E: philippe.marquis@olympian.org 

Josh Su
Specialist, Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-464-4060
E: jsu@olympic.ca

Photi Sotiropolous
Director, Communications and Media Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 416-476-9174
E: psotiropoulos@olympic.ca