World Athletics head Coe supports athletes' right to take knee on Olympic podium

Sebastian Coe stood at the edge of the track at Tokyo's new National Stadium on Thursday. Dressed in a blue suit and speaking in a light drizzle, he repeated his support for the right of athletes to advocate for social or racial justice at next year's postponed Tokyo Olympics.

"I've been very clear that if an athlete chooses to take the knee on a podium then I'm supportive of that," Coe said, giving a boost to Black Lives Matter protests and other social- and racial-justice movements that are determined to use Tokyo as a stage.

Coe is speaking out in direct opposition to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter that says "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

He also headed the 2012 London Olympics.

"Athletes are a part of the world and they want to reflect the world they live in," Coe said. "For me, that part is perfectly acceptable as long as it is done with respect — complete respect — for other competitors, which I think most athletes properly understand."

The Tokyo Games had to be postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Coe is in the Japanese capital on a courtesy visit to Tokyo Olympics organizers. He met with its president Yoshiro Mori and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

Tokyo is also the headquarters for the giant advertising company Dentsu Inc., which has been a major backer of World Athletics.

Coe pitched Tokyo as a possible venue for a future World Athletics world championship. Tokyo held the worlds in 1991, and Osaka was the host city in 2007.

"We don't know what will happen in the next few months," Coe said. "We are absolutely committed to work with the organizing committee for the delivery of a fantastic games. There may have to be some adaptations. There may need to be some differences. But I'm absolutely convinced that even under those circumstances they will still be fantastic games."