The United States’ national sports teams have been criticized for prioritizing political activism over athletic performance and national representation. Jennifer Bryson, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), authored a report titled “Reclaim Team USA Sports from Activism,” which addresses how these teams incorporate symbols of LGBTQ, gun control, and other partisan issues into their uniforms and social media presence. Bryson argues that this approach detracts from the primary focus on athletic excellence and national unity.
Bryson points to instances such as the U.S. men’s soccer team wearing pro-gun-control armbands and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) promoting diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and LGBT+ pride as examples of governance failures in American sports.
“Greatness in American sports comes from excellence in athleticism, not from hijacking sports to promote activism. Our national sports teams should represent the entire nation, not niche activist causes. What belongs on the uniforms of our national sports teams is the American flag,” stated EPPC Fellow Jennifer Bryson.
To address these concerns, Bryson proposes several measures for both the Trump Administration and Congress to consider. These include forming a commission named “Governance and American Excellence in Sports” (GAmES), restricting symbols on uniforms to only include the American flag and national colors, and discontinuing support for partisan political causes.
She concludes with a vision for celebrating “the 250th birthday of our nation with great national sports teams pursuing a focused mission of sports excellence—not political, social, cultural, or other causes.” According to Bryson, achieving this will require effective leadership and robust governance structures within American sports organizations.
