Taking a knee during the Tokyo Olympics or lifting a fist in support of racial equality will be punished as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday maintained its ban on athletes' protests inside stadiums, at ceremonies and on podiums.
The IOC's Rule 50 forbids any kind of "demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda" in venues and any other Olympic area and the Games body concluded the rule should be maintained following an athlete consultation.
Against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement protesting racial injustice, calls have increased in recent months for a change to that rule that would allow athletes to protest.
Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy (L) takes the knee for BLM during the Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion in Brighton, UK, July 11, 2020. /CFP
The IOC's Athletes' Commission chief Kirsty Coventry, who led a review of the rule, said 70 percent of athletes consulted were against any protests within the fields of play, the podiums, or ceremonies.
The IOC's recommendations are the result of a consultation process that started in June 2020 and involved over 3,500 athletes.
When asked if athletes would be punished in Tokyo for making political statements such as taking a knee on the podium in support of racial equality, Coventry said: "Yes, that is correct."
Coventry said there were a series of recommendations approved by the IOC's Executive Board on Wednesday, including providing clarity on sanctions, more information about Rule 50, a change of wording of the Olympic Oath with messages on inclusion, and producing athlete apparel with inclusive messaging.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee President Seiko Hashimoto speaks as she displays Japan's traditional crafts collection from 47 prefectures featuring the Olympic elements in Tokyo, Japan, April 15, 2021. /CFP
The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, kick off on July 23.
The IOC has said there are no plans to cancel or postpone them again, with the Games now less than 100 days away..
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is preparing to request an emergency period be declared from April 29 to May 9, encompassing Japan's annual "Golden Week" holiday period, the Mainichi newspaper reported.
"We were informed there might be another state of emergency declared in Tokyo," IOC President Thomas Bach said.
"This (state of emergency) is absolutely in line with the overall policy of the government but it is not related to the Olympic Games," Bach said.
(With input from agencies)