The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's Athletes Advisory Committee has asked the International Olympic Committee to abolish Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits athletes from protesting or making political statements at the Games.
The committee's letter contained the following excerpt, per Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post:
"We are now at a crossroads. The IOC and IPC cannot continue on the path of punishing or removing athletes who speak up for what they believe in, especially when those beliefs exemplify the goals of Olympism.
"Instead, sports administrators must begin the responsible task of transparent collaboration with athletes and athlete groups (including independent athlete groups) to reshape the future of athlete expression at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.