Protests in Sports: A Timeline of Activism and Influence

At the Olympic Games in Mexico on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes competed. Tommie Smith won the gold medal. John Carlos secured the bronze medal at the end of the grueling 200m race.

They took the podium to receive their medals. Just as the American national anthem was beginning, an event that would have historical repercussions had happened. Two American athletes lowered their heads. They raised their fists in protest against apartheid in their country as their national anthem was played.

Meanwhile, to emphasize the poverty of blacks, they had taken off their shoes and had black gloves on their hands. Smith wore a black scarf to represent black pride. Carlos was on the podium with a beaded necklace. It symbolized solidarity with the blue-collar workers. The beads were for those who were lynched, killed, hanged and tarred.

The consequences of this quiet but powerful protest were dire for them and their families. Smith and Carlos were accused of trying to bring politics into the stadium. They were kicked out of the team and from the Olympic games. Carlos’ brothers who served as soldiers in Vietnam were promptly discharged from the army. Carlos’ ex-wife committed suicide. Smith and Carlos were unemployed and not even make a living afterwards.

This courageous protest by two athletes in 1968 was a significant moment. Today, it is considered one of the most powerful acts of peaceful sport activism in history. It is also famous for its impact and legacy.

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For centuries, sport wasn’t just seen as a way to compete or have fun. Sports have been heavily linked to politics. It was used to rule, manipulate, and even numb societies. Over time, it turned into a platform for effective protests, again as a reflection of society.

Of course, the social and societal power of sports is unmatched. In parallel with the expectations of the society, sports are also changing. Issues such as basic human rights and equality are now discussed at the center of sports. The issues that are triggered and grown from here are also spreading to the society in waves.

With their influence and power of reach, athletes stand out as spokespersons. They convey messages and raise awareness. Athletes are at the forefront in parallel with such ruptures and expectations in society.

Sports and athletes play a critical role in today’s world. They can influence social, economic, and even environmental issues.

One of the symbolic events of the last period is still fresh in memory. On August 26, 2016, Colin Kaepernick participated in a National Football League (NFL) pre-season friendly in the United States. He made an anti-racist protest. He knelt during the national anthem.

Kaepernick’s move resonated with different wings. This symbolic movement, which he started, spread to the sports community with the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement gained momentum after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. Many athletes began to show their reaction to discriminatory attitudes and behaviors against black people by kneeling.

_{^{Qatar World Cup is talked about with protests more than football!}}

The World Cup held in Qatar also saw protests that will go down in history. Qatar faces criticism for human rights violations. The country’s stance on gender equality is also under fire. Despite Fifa’s support, Qatar cannot prevent national teams from different countries from protesting. These teams have various reasons and approaches for their protests.

Here is the Iranian national team. At the cost of their lives, they took a bold stand against the oppressive regime in their country. They made a silent protest. Before the England game, they remained silent, not singing their country’s national anthem. There were also protests in the stands.

Iran’s team captain, Ehasan Hajsafi, expressed his condolences. He addressed the families who lost their loved ones before the match in Doha. He said, ‘Let them know that we are with them.’ He added, “We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right. Our people are not happy.”

The national teams of England, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Wales wanted to play with rainbow-colored OneLove armbands. They wanted to protest Qatar’s gender identity policies and discrimination. But Fifa has announced the consequences of this behavior. The team captains will be shown a yellow card penalty.

Against this, Germany made a different protest. The German players lined up in the traditional line-up before the Japan game to protest against FIFA. FIFA almost scolded and threatened the teams. Each of the 11 players took a team photo by covering their mouths with their right hands.

Meanwhile, the German Football Federation announced a lawsuit against the international sports court in Lausanne, CAS. This lawsuit concerns Fifa’s blocking off the diversity and human rights symbol. Deutsche Telekom, Volkswagen, Adidas, Lufthansa and Commerzbank are the corporate sponsors of the German National Team. They are also under public pressure to react on this issue.

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Sport is not far from society. On the contrary, it is a mirror of society in many points. It carries transformative power and influence. It plays a clear and critical role in competition and advocacy. It also impacts social and societal issues.

Many examples of sports activism can be seen throughout history. They have provided a social break in this direction. It is obvious that this will increase in the future and will come to the fore with the effects it will create…

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