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Friday 10 January 2020
IOC details rules on political protests at Olympics

By GRAHAM DUNBAR crossed his wrists at the fin-
AP Sports Writer ish line to show support with
LAUSANNE, Switzerland freedom-seeking protesters
(AP) — No taking a knee in his home region of Ethio-
at the Olympics. No hand pia.
gestures with political "It is a fundamental princi-
meaning. No disrespect at ple that sport is neutral and
medal ceremonies. must be separate from po-
The International Olym- litical, religious or any other
pic Committee published type of interference," the
guidelines Thursday speci- IOC document states, urg-
fying which types of athlete ing "the focus for the field of
protests will not be allowed play and related ceremo-
at the 2020 Tokyo Games. nies must be on celebrat-
Athletes are prohibited by ing athletes' performance."
the Olympic Charter's Rule A meeting Thursday be-
50 from taking a political tween the IOC executive
stand in the field of play — board and athletes' panel
like the raised fists by Ameri- also discussed the charter's
can sprinters Tommie Smith Rule 40, which strictly limits
and John Carlos at the an athletes ability to pro-
1968 Mexico City Games. mote their sponsors during
Today's Olympians now International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, left, and IOC member and for- official Olympic Games pe-
know more about which mer swimmer Kirsty Coventry, right, speak during a press conference after the executive board riods.
acts of "divisive disruption" meeting of the IOC, at the Olympic House, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. German athletes working
will lead to disciplinary ac- Associated Press outside the IOC system
tion in Tokyo. They can still won concessions last year
express political opinions in Coventry, an Olympic gold letes were reprimanded by cluded swimmers from Aus- in a ruling that has led to
official media settings or on medalist in swimming, is the U.S. Olympic Commit- tralia and Britain refusing to Olympic bodies in the Unit-
social media accounts. now Zimbabwe's sports tee for medal podium pro- join world championship ed States, Australia and
"We needed clarity and minister. tests at the Pan-American gold medalist Sun Yang Canada to offer a better
they wanted clarity on the Athletes who break protest Games in August in Lima, on the podium because deal to their athletes.
rules," said Kirsty Coventry, rules at the July 24-Aug. 9 Peru. Fencer Race Im- the Chinese star has been In the German case, a fed-
chair of the IOC Athletes' Tokyo Games face three boden kneeled and ham- implicated in doping viola- eral cartel agency sided
Commission, which over- rounds of disciplinary ac- mer thrower Gwen Berry tions. against the IOC's argument
saw the new three-page tion — by the IOC, a sport's raised a fist in protest. Both A political gesture at the that retaining exclusive
document. "The majority of governing body and a na- were put on probation for 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olym- rights for its top-tier spon-
athletes feel it is very impor- tional Olympic body. 12 months, a period that pics went unpunished in sors protected the value of
tant that we respect each The new guidelines come covers the Tokyo Olympics. the men's marathon. Sil- deals that help fund sports
other as athletes." after two American ath- Other protests in 2019 in- ver medalist Feyisa Lilesa and athletes globally. q

Worker help sought to combat Super

Bowl human trafficking

of the crime taking place, catch these guys." "We just encourage ev-
Florida Attorney General The hospitality industry is eryone to report anything
Ashley Moody said at the taking notice. Cecil Sta- they see that looks suspi-
"No Room for Trafficking" ton, president and CEO of cious," Rogers said. "We re-
conference, held at the the Asian American Hotel ally, really encourage that
Fontainebleau Hotel. Owners Association, said culture."
The people most likely to it's bad business for people Similarly, authorities want
be enslaved for sex work who run hotels to allow hu- ride-hailing services such
are young girls, officials man trafficking. as Uber and Lyft, as well as
said. They noted that "No honest hotelier wants taxi drivers, to be aware of
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson, second from right, events such as the Feb. 2 human trafficking on their what is being said in their
speaks during a meeting between law enforcement officials Super Bowl, with all its at- property. We are all about vehicles and to recognize
and hotel groups to announce a campaign to prevent hu- tendant parties, are ripe collaboration," Staton said. when something doesn't
man trafficking surrounding next month's Super Bowl NFL foot-
ball game in the Miami area, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, in Miami for human and sex traffick- Mary Rogers, vice presi- seem right. Moody was
Beach, Fla. ing. They also noted that dent and general man- participating in a training
Associated Press trafficking occurs through- ager at the Fontaineb- event for Uber drivers later
out the year, not just dur- leau, said all of the hotel's Thursday.
By CURT ANDERSON security personnel to be ing major events. employees receive regular "It has to be a concerted
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — especially alert. "We're enlisting people to training on possible signs of effort that never stops,"
To combat human traffick- These are the people most help law enforcement," human trafficking : rooms said Chip Rogers, presi-
ing during the Super Bowl, likely to encounter the vic- said Moody, who chairs a where people come and dent and CEO of the
law enforcement officials tims and perpetrators of statewide task force on hu- go at all hours, cash pay- American Hotel & Lodging
said Thursday that they trafficking — and would man trafficking. "Most of ments and young women Association. "It will take all
need hotel workers, ride- be able to provide authori- the cases begin with anon- who never leave their of our efforts to make this
hailing service drivers and ties with tips and evidence ymous tips. That's how we'll rooms. happen."q