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| Britain | |
| Brit athletes banned from criticism of Chinese regime | |
| 2008-02-10 | |
| British Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China's appalling human rights record – or face being banned from travelling to Beijing. The move – which raises the spectre of the order given to the England football team to give a Nazi salute in Berlin in 1938 – immediately provoked a storm of protest. The controversial clause has been inserted into athletes' contracts for the first time and forbids them from making any political comment about countries staging the Olympic Games. It is contained in a 32-page document that will be presented to all those who reach the qualifying standard and are chosen for the team. From the moment they sign up, the competitors – likely to include the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips and world record holder Paula Radcliffe – will be effectively gagged from commenting on China's politics, human rights abuses or illegal occupation of Tibet.
Yesterday the British Olympic Association (BOA) confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that any athlete who refuses to sign the agreements will not be allowed to travel to Beijing. Should a competitor agree to the clause but then speak their mind about China, they will be put on the next plane home. The clause, in section 4 of the contract, simply states: “[Athletes] are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues.” It then refers competitors to Section 51 of the International Olympic Committee charter, which “provides for no kind of demonstration, or political, religious or racial propaganda in the Olympic sites, venues or other areas”. The BOA took the decision even though other countries – including the United States, Canada, Finland, and Australia – have pledged that their athletes would be free to speak about any issue concerning China. To date, only New Zealand and Belgium have banned their athletes from giving political opinions while competing at the Games. Simon Clegg, the BOA's chief executive, said: “There are all sorts of organisations who would like athletes to use the Olympic Games as a vehicle to publicise their causes. ... As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct.” | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #13 Does anyone in the US even bother to watch any of it anymore? What's worse US broadcasters have paid for the majority of the IOC's income. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-02-10 19:11 |
| #12 People still think the olympics are relevant? |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2008-02-10 18:10 |
| #11 IS this requirement unique to the Brits or are American atheletes expected to do the same? Anyone know? |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2008-02-10 12:21 |
| #10 I would imagine talking about how bad the pollution is would fall under "political speech". |
| Posted by: danking70 2008-02-10 12:03 |
| #9 Instapundit links to this site, which describes some Brits (and Nepalis) who I suspect are closer to what Mrs. Thatcher (PBUH) has in mind. |
| Posted by: Matt 2008-02-10 11:09 |
| #8 So if someone went to the Olympics and kept silent and then after the games went on a world tour to talk about what a nightmare it is, would the Olympics committee take the medals back? would the Athletes and the world will consider that person the winner because they won fair and square despite legalities? Would some corporation create a replacement medal for them, perhaps with a political statement on teh backside. This has all the markings of a public relations nightmare for the Chinese. Pass the popcorn. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-02-10 09:43 |
| #7 The Olympics about sport not politics? That hasn't been the case for a long time, if ever. One of my favorite quotes is from an interview Jim MacKay did with Jesse Owens for Wide World of Sports in 1966 from the Berlin Olympic Stadium. MacKay asked Owens what thoughts he had about Hitler and all that had happened in that Olympics 30 years earlier. Owens surveyed the stadium and the track and simply replied, "I'm here. He's not. That's good enough for me." |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-02-10 08:08 |
| #6 I'm split on this. For one, the Olympics should be about sport, not about advocating whatever fashionable political cause of the moment the empty-headed athletes support. On the other, this is typical Multicultural kowtowing to other cultures with repugnant practices. If only there were some middle ground, like "athletes should have enough class to keep competition and politics seperate," but I know I'm in an unpopular position there. |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-02-10 04:40 |
| #5 I'm glad to hear it, #2 GK. For some reason I thought she had died. Though considering what's been going on in England the last decade or so, undoubtedly she's getting some pre-grave practice. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-02-10 02:05 |
| #4 I doubt we'll hear any protestations from Bentonville, Wal-Mart probably provided the paper and pens for the signing free of charge. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-02-10 01:52 |
| #3 #1. Best I can determine is that the "Iron Lady" is 82 and still breathing. |
| Posted by: GK 2008-02-10 01:40 |
| #2 On the other hand, Avery Brundage is applauding from his coffin. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2008-02-10 01:37 |
| #1 Well, hell - the British "elites" have rolled over for everybody else - why not the Chinese? "As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct." Which in your case seems to be kissing the butts of every terrorist and dictator you can find. That whirring sound you hear is Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher spinning in their graves. >:-( |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-02-10 00:39 |