Australian vs other Olympic Committees

Sophie 4 August 2008, 08:49AM

AOC logo

Along with our National Director, Claire Mallinson, I met with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). We suggested a few different methods of engagement, ways that athletes could find out more about human rights in China. The AOC rejected all of our suggestions stating that it was "not their role" to assist in the dissemination of human rights information. Other Olympic Committees around the world saw it differently...

The Italian Olympic Committee agreed to distribute Amnesty campaign materials to athletes leaving for China. The Italian NOC has met with Amnesty Italy on three occasions and over that time the Committee shifted its position from one where it had asked athletes not to collaborate with Amnesty.

The Norwegian Olympic Committee has embraced the idea that promoting human rights can and should be an aim for the Olympic Games. Five Norwegian athletes took part in Amnesty Norway's China campaign, including being photographed for posters etc - all were strongly supported by their OIympic Committee. Director of the Committee Tove Paule, has talked about China's human rights situation in Norwegian media.

Finnish Olympic Committee distributed our Amnesty material (fact sheets and petition postcards in folder with covering letter to athletes) to all Olympic and Paralympic athletes as part of the official information package provided to athletes.

The German Olympic Committeeagreed to distribute China campaign materials to their athletes. The Committee published a position paper on human rights and said they raised with Chinese authorities the cases of individuals presently suffering human rights abuse in China.

Spain's Olympic Committee also agreed to distribute Amnesty China Campaign materials to their athletes. Amnesty Spain prepared special booklets for distribution, these were sent to the Spanish Olympic Committee and to key Spanish Sporting Federations with the agreement of the Olympic Committee. Once the Spanish team was selected, there was an undertaking to ensure that those heading to Beijing had access to the information.

The Dutch Olympic Committee worked with Amnesty Netherlands to develop a diary for athletes to take to Beijing. This was distributed to all athletes and support staff, the Committee even ordered a second round of this diary be printed.

The Danish Olympic Committee allowed Amnesty Denmark staff to give verbal briefings to athletes including Q&A sessions where athletes could ask about human rights in China.

Here in Australia, we offered the AOC an English language equivalent of the Dutch diary, we offered one page information pages for the athletes packages, we offered verbal information sessions at times and locations suiting the athletes - all of these options were rejected by Craig Phillips, Secretary General of the Australian Olympic Committee.

About the Author

This blog entry was created by Sophie and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.

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