Most narrow Olympic Charter since 1968
- Published on 3/07/2008
© AFP
Amnesty International is concerned Australian athletes will be subjected to human rights violations at the Beijing Games, as the International Olympic Committee imposes the most narrow interpretation of the Olympic Charter since the Mexico summer Olympics in 1968.
"The fundamental Principles of Olympism state that the goal is to 'place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity,'" said China Campaign Coordinator Sophie Peer.
"In the case of the Beijing Olympics the opposite is happening."
"The IOC is not doing enough to protect athletes from Chinese policies which breach international human rights standards and routinely undermine human dignity."
Amnesty International says a number of objectives outlined in the IOC's Mission and Role mandate are being directly contradicted in the current interpretation of the Olympic Charter.
These include:
Objective 4: to cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace.
Objective 5: to take action in order to strengthen the unity and to protect the independence of the Olympic Movement.
Objective 6: to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement.
"Cooperation with the Chinese Government has come at the expense of athlete's basic rights, and to the extreme detriment of Chinese peoples' rights," said Ms Peer.
"The IOC is not acting to protect the independence of the Olympic Movement. Instead it has narrowed its own Charter to suit the host nation at the expense of some of its founding principles and universal human rights. Athletes are a key part of the Olympic Movement, yet they cannot wear what they choose to, or express opinions peacefully."
Amnesty International calls on all individuals, organisations and governments to ensure China honours the human rights commitments it made when bidding to host the Olympic Games.
Get involved
During their bid to host the Olympic Games the Chinese authorities promised to improve human rights. This promise has not been kept.
© Kin Cheung, AP Photo.
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