Liz Cambage threatens Olympic boycott after calling out 'whitewashed' photoshoot

Lachlan McKirdy

Liz Cambage threatens Olympic boycott after calling out 'whitewashed' photoshoot image

Australian basketball superstar Liz Cambage has threatened to boycott the Tokyo Olympics after taking to Instagram to call out what she believed was a 'whitewashed' promotional shoot.

In a series of posts, the 29-year-old criticised the Australian Olympic Team for two photoshoots. 

One was a photoshoot featuring eight athletes for a brand partner, Jockey Australia. 

The other was the launch of the Australian Olympic Team's Asics uniform that will be worn at the Olympic Games. 

"If I've said it once I've said it a million times," Cambage posted on her first slide.

"HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T EVEN REPRESENT ME #whitewashedaustralia."

Cambage went on to post in her next story, "also fake tan doesn't equal diversity". 

liz cambage ig posts

Cambage then went on to argue that the Australian Olympic Team was attempting to "remove" people of colour from photos. 

"Y'all really do anything to remove POCs from the forefront when it's black athletes leading the pack," Cambage posted.

"Until I see you doing more @ausolympicteam imma sit this one out."

She also then posted highlights of Cathy Freeman's inspirational 400m run at the Sydney Olympics with the following caption.

"Also just to remind you Australia's GREATEST sporting moment was thanks too (sic) BLACK INDIGENOUS WOMAN."

In the second post on Cambage's story, one of the athletes pictured is an Indigenous athlete, Maurice Longbottom. 

At the event, the rugby sevens star spoke proudly of his Indigenous heritage as he wore a uniform designed especially by Australian boxer Paul Fleming. 

"Titled ‘Walking Together’, the design includes footsteps representing the 52 Indigenous athletes who have competed at an Olympic Games and a central meeting place signifying the Olympics bringing together people from all countries, backgrounds and cultures," the AOC said in a release

While Cambage's comment about "fake tan" were not directed at Longbottom, there are many online who have seen it as offensive. 

In response to Cambage's post, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has accepted that they should have made more effort for the Jockey photoshoot in particular to have a more diverse group of athletes. 

The AOC's General Meeting is on Saturday and they have confirmed changes to the constitution will be considered to ensure better Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island representation on the Athletes' Commission. 

"The AOC acknowledges Liz Cambage’s point with regard to this particular photo shoot," the AOC said in a statement supplied to Sporting News.

"The athletes made available to Jockey could and should have better reflected the rich diversity of athletes who represent Australia at the Olympic Games.

"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.

"Tomorrow the Annual General Meeting will consider a change to the AOC Constitution which will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island representation on our Athletes’ Commission. 

"Next month we will launch our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan following lengthy consultation with our Indigenous Advisory Committee.

"Our Olympic Team for Tokyo, as it did in Rio, will consist of more women than men.

"We proudly defend our track record on diversity and there will be further photo shoots that reflect our broad diversity of athletes.

"With regard to this photo shoot however, we acknowledge while proud of the athletes involved and proud of our association with Jockey, it should have better reflected the diversity of our Team.

"The Olympic Charter commits us all to oppose any form of discrimination."

Cambage is currently preparing for the WNBA season with the Las Vegas Aces. 

Their first pre-season game is against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday (AEST). 

She was a part of the Opals' bronze medal-winning team at the 2012 Olympics and was set to be a pivotal part of their team heading to Tokyo. 

The Opals have been drawn in Group C for the Olympic tournament along with Puerto Rico, China and Belgium. 

 

Lachlan McKirdy

Lachlan McKirdy Photo