Letter to Susanne Lyons, Chair of the Board of Directors US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, to Sarah Hirshland, Chief Executive Officer US Olympic & Paralympic Committee - Rep. Rosendale Stands Against Olympians Abusing the Olympic Games Platform

Letter

Dear Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Hirshland:

We are deeply concerned by the growing trend of American athletes taking advantage of the international platform afforded by the Olympic games to perpetuate divisive, hateful, and anti-American ideologies.

As you are likely aware, social media comments made by Chelsea Wolfe, who has qualified as an alternate to represent the U.S. in this summer's Olympic games, recently received widespread media attention. In one post, Wolfe claims "My goal is to win the Olympics so I can burn a US flag on the podium." In another comment, Wolfe implied President Donald J. Trump should be assassinated.

Unfortunately, Wolfe is not the only athlete whose behavior has been unbecoming of an individual representing our country on the international stage. Gwen Berry, who has qualified to represent the U.S. in this summer's Olympic games, recently put a t-shirt over her head and turned away from the American flag because she was "pissed" the national anthem was playing.

It is an honor and a privilege to represent the United States of America at the Olympic games. It is unacceptable for athletes to use the Olympic games as a pulpit to attack our country and spread divisive, anti-American political ideologies.

We ask that you remind all American athletes of Rule 50 of the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Charter, which states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." The political neutrality of the Olympics should be respected, and the aforementioned comments clearly and regrettably violate this principle.

It is our hope that members of the U.S. Olympic Team will stop abusing their platform to spout shameful anti-American rhetoric, and all athletes representing the United States of America at the Olympic games this summer will do so proudly and patriotically.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.