Amy Bass : IOC mulled letting Ukraine athletes wear black armbands . The International Olympic Committee is considering allowing Ukrainian athletes to wear black armbands. In 1968 , it pressured the U.S. Olympic Committee to take action against sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos after the duo raised black gloved fists during the victory ceremony of the men 's 200-meter race to protest racial oppression . She says Olympics inherently political and IOC has taken contradictory stands many times . Bass : Yes , Olympic truce is central to Games , but it does n't mean politics have no place .
Amy Bass : IOC mulled letting Ukraine athletes wear black armbands . The International Olympic Committee is considering allowing Ukrainian athletes to wear black armbands. She says Olympics inherently political and IOC has taken contradictory stands many times . Bass : Yes , Olympic truce is central to Games , but it does n't mean politics have no place .