Unsportsmanlike conduct
The British Olympic Association (BOA) reportedly is forcing the nation’s athletes to sign contracts that effectively ban them from speaking out against human rights abuses in China.
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.
The ban goes into effect from the moment a competitor signs up with the team, and those who refuse to sign will not be allowed to travel to Beijing. Violators will be sent home immediately.
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”.
What about other countries? The United States, Canada, Finland, and Australia all have announced their athletes will be free to speak about any issue concerning China. Only New Zealand and Belgium have banned athletes from giving political opinions.
Hmm, I don’t think many athletes really want to get drawn into such issues anyway when they’re competing. One could say it’s not really necessary, but it’s hardly draconian either.
In some respects it’s rather amusing because there wouldn’t be anything to stop the athlete in question answering questions after they had already finished their events. So if someone wants to make a stand on the issue they need only wait until they win their medals/are eliminated.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:27 amBloody hell. I’m a New Zealander. This is disgraceful! We had the balls to tell the USA and Britain to put their nuclear ships elsewhere, but we can’t summon sack and pay out the Chinamen?
February 11th, 2008 at 10:24 amI just heard that the British decided to reverse their decision.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:09 amwhat about the IOC?..whats their standpoint on the matter? or are they too busy sniffing out drug taking and dodgy Olympic merchandise (most of which is probably being churned out by the truck load out in the boonies of Beijing…ironically).
rem.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:03 am