Black Lives Matter
FILE - In this Oct. 16, 1968, file photo, extending gloved hands skyward in protest, U.S. athletes Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos stare downward during the national anthem after Smith received the gold and Carlos the bronze in the men's 200 meters at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Australian silver medalist Peter Norman is at left. In a major shift in policy, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee committed to not sanction athletes who use their platform for social demonstrations. The USOPC stance sets up the possibility for conflict and confusion at the Tokyo Games, where the IOC will be in charge. (AP Photo/File)
IOC gives athletes more scope for protest at Tokyo Olympics

By Graham Dunbar Jul. 02, 2021 12:02 PM EDT

Noah Lyles competes in the second semi-final of the men's 100-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. In first notable demonstration of the track trials, Lyles made a subtle gesture, wearing a black glove — minus the fingers on his left hand, and raising his fist when he was introduced before the race. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Noah Lyles sends message by raising gloved fist at trials

By Pat Graham Jun. 21, 2021 02:38 AM EDT

UCLA Bruins gymnast Nia Dennis competes in the floor exercise against BYU during a gymnastics meet in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Viral and vital, college gymnasts finding their voice

By Will Graves Feb. 12, 2021 06:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, Naomi Osaka, of Japan, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, in New York. Osaka's victory in the U.S. Open helped raised the issue of racial injustice in the United States. Before each of her matches, she wore a mask with the names of seven Black Americans who died as victims of violence. The daughter of a Japanese mother and Haitian father, she has become a leader of the Black Lives Matter movement. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Japan celebrates Osaka; Sponsors cautious about activism

By Yuri Kageyama And Stephen Wade Sep. 14, 2020 03:54 AM EDT

A symbol installed for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 on a barge is moved away from its usual spot by tugboats off the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The five Olympic rings floating on a barge in Tokyo Bay were removed for what is being called “maintenance,” and officials says they will return to greet next year's Games. The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic and are to open on July 23, 2021. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Australian survey: younger Olympians more willing to protest

By John Pye Aug. 14, 2020 01:11 AM EDT

Protesters take a knee during a demonstration calling for justice for the death of George Floyd and all victims of police brutality, in Montreal, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Commonwealth Games open to athletes taking a knee

Jun. 12, 2020 11:12 AM EDT