My name is Stacey Francis-Bayman and I am Olympics OBSESSED!!
I am an Olympics fanatic under ‘normal’ circumstance, however, being stuck in my room in a lockdown-hub, Olympic viewing has become a lifesaver and somewhat of an obsession! There have been so many fantastic physical feats already from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, however, for me, the most inspiring and long-lasting impact has been to see athletes using the world biggest sporting event as a stage to champion their beliefs and values. Despite rule 50 of the Olympic Charter banning such acts, “…displaying any political messaging, including signs or armbands; gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling; and refusal to follow the Ceremonies protocol,” according to the IOC.
Times are certainly changing in the sports world with respect to attitudes towards athletes who are mothers. There are many mothers competing at the 2020 Olympics, Allyson Felix being one of my absolute favourite humans. Not only for being the most successful female track and field athlete of all time, but also for the work that she has been doing fighting for the financial rights of pregnant athletes. Kiwi shot putter, Valerie Adams accredited her bronze medal success at these games to the inspiration that she gets from her two children and held up a photo of them trackside at the conclusion of her competition. “I hope to continue to inspire female athletes all around the world that if you want to have a kid and come back and be at the top of the world, you can, you can do that.”
Raven Saunders of Team USA won a silver medal in the women’s 2020 shot put and when presented with her medal on the podium proceeded to cross her arms above her head. When later asked what the ‘X’ meant, Saunders said “It is the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.” Saunders is a proud black LGBTQIA women that wants others within that community to know that they are “…worthy and amazing.”
During the introduction of the USA men’s epee team, three members of the four-man team wore pink masks as an alleged planned protest against their teammate, who is currently under investigation for sexual assault. The pink masks were to stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors, whilst condemning the Olympic Games’ choice to allow someone accused of such a crime to be able to compete at the Games.
Gymnast Luciana Alvarado from Costa Rica paid tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement in her Olympic performance by taking the opportunity to highlight the importance of equal rights on an international stage. "Because we're all the same," she said. "We're all beautiful and amazing." A message which several women’s soccer teams including Great Britain, USA and New Zealand supported by taking a knee prior to their opening fixtures of the competition.
Outside of the Olympics, but most certainly in the same vein, at the European Beach Handball Championships, the Norwegian women’s handball team were fined for breaking the sport's dress code by wearing shorts, as opposed to the prescribed and archaic bikini bottoms.
Something that I have touched on before and one thing that I have heard lots in recent years is that sports and politics should not mix. I hope that my stance on this is pretty clear and if not, here it is… I think that idea is utter nonsense!! In years to come will you remember how many net points I managed to accrue in a game or will you remember the causes that I champion and what I stand for as a person? I know which I believe to be more impactful.
Frank x
Instagram & Twitter: @StcyJyneFrancis
