Liz Cambage Threatens To Boycott Tokyo Olympics Over 'Whitewashed' Photos

Liz Cambage isn't too happy with the Australian Olympic Committee.

The basketball legend has taken aim at the sport's governing body for not including players of colour in their promotion shoots and it appears she has now threatened to boycott the upcoming Games in Tokyo as a result.

Australian company Jockey was recently unveiled as the official underwear supplier to the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams.

And to announce the sponsorship, both Jockey and the Australian Olympic team released promo pictures that featured Aussie athletes such as Jess Fox, Heath Davidson, Ellie Cole and Cameron McEvoy.

When the photos were published online, Cambage took to social media to point out that they didn't include a single person of colour - a move that didn't sit well in the eyes of the Las Vegas Aces center.

Re-sharing the image to her Instagram story, Cambage added the caption: "If I've said it once I've said it a million times... HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T EVEN REPRESENT ME #whitewashedaustralia."

Instagram/@ecambage

She then re-shared another Instagram post, this time from the Australian Olympic team's official Instagram account announcing their uniform partnership with Asics.

"Also, fake tan doesn't equal diversity," she added.

In the Asics picture Cambage is referring to, Aussie 7s player Maurice Longbottom is wearing the official Indigenous jersey which was designed by Aboriginal artist and boxer Paul Fleming.

Instagram/@ecambage

She then signed off by saying: "Y'all really do anything to remove POCs from the forefront when it's black athletes leading the pack. Until I see y'all doing more Australian Olympic Team then I'm going to this this one out."

The Australian Olympic Committee were quick to issue a response to Cambage's claims.

"The AOC acknowledges Liz Cambage's point with regard to this particular photo shoot," the Committee told Nine's Wide World of Sports.

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

Instagram/@ecambage

"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."

Topics: Basketball, olympics, olympic games, Tokyo Olympics, WNBA, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry