(ATR) Once spurned by the U.S. Olympic Committee, Tommie Smith and John Carlos are now being exalted for their protest at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.
Sprinters Smith and Carlos respectively won the gold and bronze in the 200m. Wearing black gloves, the two men raised their fists in the black power salute during the playing of the national anthem at the medal ceremony.
The IOC, headed by the prejudice-laden American Avery Brundage, demanded the U.S. Olympic Committee take action against the pair. Smith and Carlos were suspended and booted from the Olympic Village in Mexico City but at least kept their medals.
Times have changed.
Wednesday night Smith and Carlos will make their debut as ambassadors for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. for Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Rio de Janeiro. On Thursday they will visit the White House with the Rio team to meet President Barack Obama.
"The Olympic committee has come back to say we respect you for who you are. Respect you for your beliefs. Respect you for the longevity of your beliefs. And we respect your courage," Carlos tells Around the Rings.
Less than a week ago, USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun announced the recognition for Carlos and Smith.
"I think Tommie and John have played an important and positive role in the evolution of our attitudes about diversity and inclusion, not only in the United States but around the world," Blackmun said.
Carlos says he is pleased to join the USOC in its efforts to break down barriers in sport.
"I want society to be on a level playing field, whether it's in sports or in everyday life. Now the USOC is starting to feel we can do a far better job relative to understanding different cultures and ethnic issues in terms of a full blown revolution for all individuals, regardless of what your religious beliefs are, your sexual gender, whether you are white or black.
"I think their policy is to open it up so that everyone is comfortable under the Olympic rings," Carlos tells ATR.
The change in attitude from 1968 is remarkable. Here’s how the USOC explained its actions in Mexico City 48 years ago.
"The United States Olympic Committee expresses its profound regrets to the International Olympic Committee, to the Mexican Organizing Committee and to the people of Mexico for the discourtesy displayed by two members of its team in departing from tradition during a victory ceremony at the Olympic Stadium on Oct. 16.
"The untypical exhibitionism of these athletes also violates the basic standards of good manners and sportsmanship, which are so highly valued in the United States, and therefore the two men involved are suspended forthwith from the team and ordered to remove themselves from the Olympic Village.
"This action is taken in the belief that such immature behavior is an isolated incident. However, if further investigation or subsequent events do not bear out this view, the entire matter will be re-evaluated. A repetition of such incidents by other members of the United States team can only be considered a willful disregard of Olympic principles that would warrant the imposition of the severest penalties at the disposal of the United States Olympic Committee," said the statement issued by then USOC President Douglas Roby.
The legacy of Smith and Carlos has resurfaced in the past few weeks with the protests of NFL players during the playing of the national anthem that’s a traditional part of the pregame for professional sports in the U.S. The actions of the two sprinters at the 1968 Olympics are believed to be the first high profile protest by athletes during the U.S. national anthem at a sports event.
"We definitely were the first runners with that," Carlos says with a tone of satisfaction.
The two Olympians are not scheduled to speak at the USOC events in Washington.
About 700 Olympians and Paralympians are expected to attend the Wednesday night awards gala at Georgetown University and the reception Thursday on the South Lawn of the White House. The visit by the athletes will be the last of four such events the president has hosted since the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
More on Smith and Carlos from Olympics expert and journalist Phil Hersh in his latest column.
Written by Ed Hula.
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