German women’s field hockey captain can wear rainbow armband at Olympics as ‘symbol of sexual diversity’
We’ll see her true colors shining through.
The captain of the German women’s field hockey team will be allowed to wear a rainbow-colored armband and socks at the Tokyo Olympics.
Nike Lorenz was given the go-ahead by the International Olympic Committee to wear the LGBTQ Pride colors during this year’s Games as a “symbol of sexual diversity,” the German Olympic Committee announced Thursday in a tweet.
The 24-year-old hockey star, who won a bronze medal in Rio 2016, has previously worn rainbow-colored armbands in other games.
However, because of IOC’s Rule 50 — which states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas” — Lorenz was seeking clarity on whether she would be able to do the same in Tokyo, The Hockey Paper reported on Monday.
German Olympic Sports Confederation President Alfons Hörmann welcomed the IOC decision.
“We are pleased that we have found a way together that enables the hockey team to make a socio-political statement,” Hörmann said in a statement.
Lorenz will wear her rainbow armband and socks in her team’s opening match against defending champions Britain on Sunday.
At the Rio Olympics, Great Britain won its first gold medal in the sport against Netherlands, 2–0 on a penalty shootout after a 3–3 draw.
Germany won the bronze medal by beating New Zealand, 2–1.
