IOC gags athletes

Ahead of the Beijing games, the International Olympic Committee has decided to gag athletes from expressing any political views. Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald

The IOC has detailed its expectations of athletes, noting "such conduct must also, of course, comply with the laws of the host state".

The IOC's rule says "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas".

It says its interpretation is to include: "The conduct of participants at all sites, areas and venues [including] all actions, reactions, attitudes or manifestations of any kind by a person or group of persons, including but not limited to their look, external appearance, clothing, gestures, and written or oral statements."

This has thrown into doubt the freedom of athletes penning their thoughts as blog entries. IOC president Jacques Rogge has said athletes have freedom of expression, as long as those expressions comply with the Olympic charter. The letter confirmed that athletes could answer media questions on any topic but called on the common sense of all athletes and other participants in showing respect for the dignity of fellow athletes, including those of China.

The letter said the Olympics was not the stage for political statements "about issues such as armed conflicts, regional differences, religious disputes and many others".

Athletes breaking the rules will be stripped of their Games accreditation, which doubles as the entry and exit visas for China. In addition, athletes, officials or visitors who are detained by security officials can be held for 72 hours without the relevant embassy being notified.

I wonder what it was like in Berlin at the 1936 games under the Nazi regime?

The Black Power salute of the 1968 games in Mexico City is an enduring image of the fight for equality. And the fight has still not been won.


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Last night after I posted to Kane's blog and my music blog, the internet went down.

This evening, Stella and Ian came over for a quick dinner before we went to the theatre for the opening night performance of the Sydney Dance Company's production of INUK2.



The final act involved a lot of water and much fun by the dancers. I have seen a number of productions from the SDC over the years, and this one diverges from their primarily classical base. I guess the Graeme Murphy era is well and truly over.