The International Olympic Committee refused to follow suit, offering only a slight modification in its “no politics” stance. The IOC and the Americans appeared to be on a collision course heading for the Tokyo Games. Advertisement“People say, ‘Oh, you’re just an athlete’ but we’re not just athletes, we’re people too,” gymnast Simone Biles said. Whether because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of fans at venues or the heightened atmosphere of the Olympic Games, the IOC’s traditional gag order has gone largely unchallenged. “I think the Olympics are very important to be happening right now,” gold medalist Alexander Zverev of Germany told reporters.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 07, 2021 13:18 UTC