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Sunday, February 10, 2008

Atheletes Being Forced To Give Up Their Free Speech In Advance Of Beijing Olympics

Pathetic...

British athletes who want to compete in the summer Olympics will be required to sign a contract promising not to make statements critical of the communist regime’s human rights record or they will not be permitted to travel to China, according to a 32-page document prepared by the British Olympic Association.

“There are all sorts of organizations who would like athletes to use the Olympic Games as a vehicle to publicize their causes,” Simon Clegg, BOA’s chief executive, told the London Daily Mail.

“I don’t believe that is in the interest of the team performance. As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct.”

While this is the first time the clause prohibiting any kind of political statement about the hosting country has been included in the BOA contract, the British team is not alone. New Zealand and Belgium also make the same requirement of those who qualify to compete in Beijing.

According to BOA, any athlete who refuses to sign the contract will not be allowed to travel to Beijing, and any competitor who signs it and later makes statements critical of China will be immediately put on a plane back to the UK.

The clause, which will be in effect from when the athletes are selected for the team in July until the close of the games on Aug. 24, reads: “[Athletes] are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues.”

If the Chinese Communists want to invite the world into their borders to host the Olympics they should have to deal with the elements of the world that come with it.  Like free speech.

I understand not wanting the athletes to “rabble rouse” while they’re on an official trip representing their country, but this smacks of catering to totalitarians.  I’d just as soon my country not participate in the Olympics if suspending free speech rights is the price of admission.

Comments

If they feel they have to do that for whatever reason then they should pull out of China.


The Debate is over!  Global Whining has been confirmed.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on February 10, 2008 at 02:36 pm

Forget China! Right here in the USA, hundreds of scientists a d teachers are already afraid to express their doubts about global warming for fear of reprisal from their colleagues and/or their schools.

One Canadian intellectual has recently called for any Canadian official who doesn’t acknowledge global warming to face jail-time!

There are many ways to gag freedom of speech. We are likely to see some of the more creative methods if Hillary or Obama win the White House; starting with a renewed “fairness doctrine” for broadcasters.


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT TWO THINGS: WINNING THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND SAVING THE SUPREME COURT.

pparets on February 10, 2008 at 02:52 pm

So what if they sign it and then once they are there they decide not to abide by their agreement?

Zsa Zsa on February 10, 2008 at 02:58 pm

Zsa Zsa:  Read the whole thing. They will be sent home immediately on the next available plane.


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT TWO THINGS: WINNING THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND SAVING THE SUPREME COURT.

pparets on February 10, 2008 at 03:00 pm

Ya, BUT won’t they be ready to come home at that point anyway?

Zsa Zsa on February 10, 2008 at 03:03 pm

Come on, Zsa Zsa! You asked, and that was the answer, provided by their own governments.

Olympic athletes are not members of your local junior high track team. They are young people who have made the Olympics their life’s vocation, preparing for 3 to 6 hours daily for four years in the expectation of Olympic Gold. Few are going to risk deportation for speaking out about “political matters” in China.

Its a disgrace, but there it is. What did we expect when Bejing became the host city?


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT TWO THINGS: WINNING THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND SAVING THE SUPREME COURT.

pparets on February 10, 2008 at 03:18 pm

Don’t take it personally,
it’s just business.

WOOF on February 10, 2008 at 03:28 pm

They can say anything they want AFTER the Olympics, just not during. No contract can permanently silence them.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on February 10, 2008 at 03:50 pm

Doesn’t forcing others to give up their fundamental Human Rights, go against the Charter upon which the Modern Olympic Games were founded?

Sluggo on February 10, 2008 at 04:33 pm

So much for the UK being a part of the free world.



A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

dougee on February 10, 2008 at 07:33 pm
Avatar for ec99

I wonder if there was such a condition for the 1936 Berlin Olympics?

ec99 on February 10, 2008 at 08:48 pm

ec99:  Good Question!  But Jesse Owens, America’s first black Olympic athlete won the gold in Berlin over a German. Hitler was furious.  Now thats freedom of speech!


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT TWO THINGS: WINNING THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND SAVING THE SUPREME COURT.

pparets on February 10, 2008 at 09:02 pm

Actually, the IOC generally takes the position of the oppressor in the name of nominally protecting the Games from politics.  Remember the black power salute in 1968?  The USOC stood for the athletes that had embarassed our country; the IOC demanded that the athletes be removed, and threatened to send the entire U.S. track team home.  From Berlin 1936 to Moscow 1980 to Beijing 2008, you can count on the IOC to take the side of the dictators.

Bike Bubba on February 11, 2008 at 11:58 am
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