NCAA Releases Statement on Confederate Flag Near South Carolina Tournament Arena

The NCAA released a statement Sunday after a Confederate flag was spotted near Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman relayed the statement:

"

The NCAA is proud and excited to host championships in the state of South Carolina once again. We are committed to assuring that our events are safe and accessible to all. No symbols that compromise that commitment will be permitted to be displayed on venue property that the tournament controls. Freedom of speech activities on public property in areas surrounding the arena are managed by the city of Greenville and we are supportive of the city's efforts.

"

Before the statement was released, USA Today's Nicole Auerbach posted a photo of the flag:

Bon Secours Wellness Arena has served as a host site for opening-round action in the NCAA tournament after the NCAA relocated games from North Carolina in response to the state's controversial "bathroom bill."

On Sunday, the venue will host two of the day's most intriguing showdowns.

The top-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels are slated to tip off against the eighth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks at 6:10 p.m. ET in a South Region showdown, while the No. 2-seeded Duke Blue Devils will look to fend off the seventh-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks in the East Region for a berth in the Sweet 16 at 8:40 p.m. ET.