sam88 2008-2-12 08:59 AM
Beijing looks to Games spirit as Britain retreats
Beijing looks to Games spirit as Britain retreats
Beijing Olympic organizers said yesterday they backed a ban on political protests by athletes attending this year's Games, amid uproar over an effort to silence British athletes.
Following widespread anger, the British Olympic Association backed down late Sunday on its plan to prevent competitors from commenting on "politically sensitive issues" surrounding the August 8-24 Summer Games.
Beijing Olympic organizing committee spokesman Sun Weide said all athletes are expected to follow the Olympic Charter, drawn up by the International Olympic Committee, which outlaws political acts, and he hopes the Games spirit will be followed.
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China is believed to be concerned that some of the 10,000 athletes expected for the Games may be used by human rights activists and other groups to stage protests designed to draw attention to their causes.
The controversy erupted in Britain after the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported the BOA had warned that any athlete who refused to sign the gag order would not be allowed to travel to China.
Any British participant who signed and then spoke out during the Games would be sent home, it said.
The controversial clause stated that athletes "are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues."
Following the uproar, the BOA said it would have another look at the wording of the controversial clause.
Though some countries are known to have told their athletes to respect the charter while in Beijing, none appear to have gone as far as the BOA.
Several national Olympic committees said they have no agreements limiting free speech and denied there is any pressure from China to do so.
"Maybe the British are very different and they speak out more," said Chris Chan, secretary general of the Singapore National Olympic Council.
"But I don't think our athletes or even those from Southeast Asia dare to speak their minds."
