Political Protests at the Olympics

A recent interview with John Carlos long ago hero of the Civil Rights movement in America  made me wonder what might happen at next Summer's London 2012. At the last Olympics in Beijing in 2008 human rights activists urged athletes to demonstrate support for Tibet by forming a 'T' using both their hands.The Olympic torch relay was also marred by worldwide protest and by attempts to suppress it. 

There are strict rules about the use of political banners and flags within Olympic venues. Athletes are banned from any kind of 'demonstration or political, religious or racial propoganda'.

There is little that the authorities could do however about athletes making demonstrations outside of Olympic 'accredited areas'.A demonstration of the John Carlos kind on the medal podium itself would undoubtedly fall foul of the rules.

In 1968 at the height of the civil rights protests in the USA Tommie Smith and John Carlos made their defining protest in support of equal rights for black people in America. They became heroes to millions of their compatriots, but also hounded by the FBI. They were punished by the IOC with suspension from the American team and banishment from the Olympic Village.

They were effectively ostracised from mainstream athletics until 1984.

Have times changed? Not a great deal I suspect.