The year 2020 was not just the year of the pandemic, it was also the year of protest, and that left a mark on the sporting arenas as well. Elora Sen looks back at some events and incidents where sportspersons raised their voice against the ills of society

Voices in NBA 

The death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed in police custody in the US in May, triggered the Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign. As the NBA resumed on July 30, players wore social justice messages, along with their names on their match jerseys.

Before the 2020 NBA final on October 11, both Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat took a knee while the US anthem played. Lakers superstar LeBron James had also spoken out against the shooting. “Having two boys of my own and me being African-American in America and to see what continues to happen with the police brutality towards my kind, continue to see what goes on, it’s very troubling. It’s very troubling,” he had said.

Osaka’s mask story

During the US Open (August 31 to September 13), Naomi Osaka wore seven face masks for each of her matches. Each mask named a Black person whose death had highlighted racial injustice. She went on to win the women’s singles championship and said she wore the masks to “make people start talking”.

The names that featured on Osaka’s masks were those of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castle and Tamir Rice.

Lewis Hamilton Twitter/@LewisHamilton

Hamilton drives home a point

On September 13, champion F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, an ardent supporter of the BLM movement, attracted controversy during the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello by wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor” before and after the race.

Hamilton has been an ardent supporter of the BLM movement and wore the T-shirt as a pre-race anti-racism gesture and again on the podium after his victory.

Hamilton was making a comment against the death of the 26-year-old Taylor, who was shot dead in her home by police in Kentucky in March.

A common goal

Players, officials and staff at Premier League and English Football League games have been taking a knee pre-match since the 2019-20 season restarted in June, showing their support for the movement for racial and gender equality. On June 1, during training Liverpool players took a knee around the centre circle at Anfield in a message of support following the death of Floyd in Minneapolis.

In Germany, Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund, Weston McKennie of Schalke, and Marcus Thuram of Borussia Monchengladbach made on-field protests during Bundesliga matches in June.

Rashford, the provider

England football star Marcus Rashford successfully put pressure on the UK government and made them continue with free school meals to children during the lockdown.

Batting for a cause

On July 9, England and West Indies players took a knee ahead of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in support of the BLM movement.

For the Indigenous

On November 27, Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli led their sides onto the Sydney Cricket Ground barefoot for a touching ceremony ahead of the first ODI. The teams came together in a powerful stance against racism, while acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and apologising for the injustices meted out to Indigenous Australians.

Australia Test captain Tim Paine led his team again to form a barefoot circle on Day 1 of the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval on December 17.

Hardik Pandya takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement during Mumbai Indians’ match against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi. PTI

The Indian touch

On October 26, Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya became the first player in the Indian Premier League to take a knee in support of the BLM movement. Pandya’s gesture came during the game against Rajasthan Royals.

On December 9, Punjab cricket captain Mandeep Singh spent a day with the protesting farmers at Singhu border near New Delhi. The 28-year-old, who had played for Kings XI Punjab in this year’s IPL, said: “I was moved by seeing elders and farmers protesting on the Delhi border and hence I decided to support them. Farmers have hearts of lions and have been protesting peacefully against the farm bills and I only wish that their demands are met as soon as possible.”