Cambage threat to boycott Olympics over team photos

BASKETBALL star Liz Cambage has threatened to boycott the Tokyo Olympics in protest at what she claims is a lack of racial diversity in Australian Olympic team promotional shoots.

The 29-year-old, a two-time Olympian who is preparing for the new WNBA season with the Las Vegas Aces, on Friday took issue with two separate pictures.

One released this week shows athletes from Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic teams in apparel supplied by sponsor Jockey, but there was no person of colour.

“If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times,” Cambage, who has a Nigerian father and Australian mother, said in an Instagram story. “HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESNT (sic) EVEN REPRESENT ME #whitewashedaustralia.”

The three-time WNBA All-Star also took aim at a second image showing Australian athletes in their uniforms, saying “fake tan doesn’t equal diversity”, despite the picture including Indigenous rugby player Maurice Longbottom.

She indicated she may skip the Olympics in July in protest.

Until I see you doing more @ausolympicteam imma sit this one out,” she wrote. Cambage, part of the Australian team that won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, then referenced Cathy Freeman’s famous 400m gold medal run at her home Olympics in Sydney in 2000.

“Also just to remind you Australia’s GREATEST sporting moment was thanks too (sic) BLACK INDIGENOUS WOMAN (Freeman).” The Australian Olympic Committee conceded Cambage had a point.

“The athletes made available to Jockey could and should have better reflected the rich diversity of athletes who represent Australia at the Olympic Games,” it said in a statement.

“The AOC does, however, have a very proud history of celebrating and promoting diversity in all its forms.”

The AOC added that there would be further photo shoots “that reflect our broad diversity of athletes”. 

“Also just to remind you Australia’s GREATEST sporting moment was thanks too (sic) BLACK INDIGENOUS WOMAN (Freeman).”

Not so



Some mothers do have them
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/07/06/42681250-9552671-image-a-24_162036444...

If she dont like it, get off the free ride, get a job and no one will notice.

Quote:

In the wake of her threat, Cambage doubled down on her anger Friday night, taking to her Instagram Stories to call on Australia to “wake the *#!k up”.

Cambage has now revealed on Saturday she has been abused by people on social media following her public comments.

Her explosive claims include a suggestion a coach and former players were among the people to have criticised her as a result of her stand.

Australia’s most successful women’s coach Tom Maher on Friday labelled Cambage “inappropriate” for threatening to boycott the Tokyo Olympics.

Maher, who coached the Australian women’s side to their first Olympic medal (bronze) at the 1996 Atlanta Games and a silver at Sydney 2000, believes Cambage shouldn’t have used social media to air her concerns.

“It is inappropriate to make such a big deal out of pretty much nothing,” said Maher, who also won a record nine WNBL titles.

Hours later, Cambage captioned one photo of her sticking her tongue out on her Instagram stories: “I DO NOT CARE FOR A WHITE MAN’S OPINION ON RACIAL ISSUES. NEVER HAVE. NEVER WILL”.

She followed it with another post to suggest her comment was in regards to criticism she had received from a coach and past players.

“Especially when the comments come from one of the most abusive coaches I have ever had and past players no one cares about,” she wrote.

A third post gave a warning to online trolls that there are avenues for her to track social media users sending her threats online.

“Keep the threats coming boys,” she wrote on a screen shot image.

Maher coached Cambage at the Bulleen Boomers and famously challenged her to get back in shape after arriving back in Australia following the WNBA season in 2011.

Cambage admitted at the time she was “unfit” after “sitting on the bench and eating American food”.

The pair combined to lead the Boomers to the WNBL championship that season with Cambage being awarded as the WNBL’s MVP.

Cambage earlier said in an Instagram video she was sorry for her words being incorrectly interpreted as a suggestion proud Indigenous athlete Maurice Longbottom, pictured in one of the photos that sparked the drama, was not a person of colour.

She had earlier said “fake tan doesn’t equal diversity” in regards to the photo.

“One token POC in a photo is not good enough at. @AOC that’s what I’m talking about,” she said.

“It’s sad, the whitewashing is sad. Your black athletes lead you everywhere. Indigenous athletes are some of the best athletes we have. An y’all don’t use them at all.”
The AOC had responded earlier on Friday.

“The athletes made available to Jockey could and should have better reflected the rich diversity of athletes who represent Australia at the Olympic Games,” a spokesman said.

“The AOC does however have a very proud history of celebrating and promoting diversity in all its forms. From Indigenous reconciliation, people of colour, gender equality and all forms of diversity, the AOC is rightly proud of its record.”

It’s not the first time Cambage has taken aim over issues of race in Australia with the Las Vegas Aces WNBA star sending a fiery message to Australia “allies” last year in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd and black deaths in custody.

Freemans Gold medal was a great result for a great athlete and should never be belittled but the greatest ? Not in my opinion. I cannot think of a better track event result though.