British athletes gagged.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) has advised that athletes representing Britain at the Beijing Olympic Games are "not to comment on any politically sensitive issues". To support its decision, the BOA has cited International Olympic Committee Rule 51; "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted at Olympic sites, venues or other areas".
Surely it would be fitting for the BOA to consider the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the laws of its own nation (and even China) which all outline an individual person's right to freedom of expression. The BOA has not defined what constitutes 'politically sensitive' material. This wording is as vague as that used by China to deny human rights to its citizens, terminology such as 'state secrets' and 'national interest' are used to detain and silence people.
Thankfully the Australian Olympic Committee has publicly outlined that there is no intention to replicate the British decision for our own athletes. AOC spokesperson Mike Tancred told the media; "We have a list of values known as ASPIRE, and the E is 'express yourself', and we are aware athletes have an opinion on things."
That Britain has taken the wording of International Olympic Committee Rule 51 and interpreted in this way is alarming and saddening for a country where people have the right to opinion and expression. An individual peacefully expressing their concern or opinion over issues such as human rights or the environment is NOT propaganda.
I am not suggesting that every athlete will want to or should become a spokesperson defending human rights in China. I acknowledge that many athletes will be completely absorbed in their sporting endeavours and many may not even leave the Olympic Village. However, this is not the point - denying freedom of expression is an abuse of human rights and an individual athlete has the right to speak openly about matters of their choosing. Not signing the contract or challenging clauses would see an athlete jepoardise their position in the national team.
New Zealand Olympic officials are refuting reports that they are also gagging their Beijing bound athletes. Amnesty International remains concerned about the clause in the NZ contract. Belgium is the only other nation reported to have told athletes what they can and cannot speak about.
At least some relief is that the global outrage over the British decision is forcing the BOA to review the contract athletes are made to sign.
Comments
aetna34 | Posted on 21 February 2008, 04:46PM | Report comment
Australian musicians traveling to China are also gagged, even when the ABC accompanies them to make a documentary. I have had first-hand experience of this, as I had to suffer repercussions about speaking out on the environment and oil company sponsorship. The ABC Charter is supposed to provide reportage ‘without fear or favour’, but that was in total opposition to the kinds of workplace contract that musicians were asked to sign on for. My membership of Amnesty was raised with me by our management before the tour! I am proud that the British athletes have spoken out, and feel that many ordinary people who tour their for cultural or sporting reasons shouldn’t be ‘media managed’ by our own countries.