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.