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Britain kow tows to China as athletes are forced to sign no criticism contracts
By ROB DRAPER and DANIEL KING - More by this author » Last updated at 13:07pm on 10th February 2008

Britain kow tows to China as athletes are forced to sign no criticism contracts | the Daily Mail
British Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China's appalling human rights record – or face being banned from travelling to Beijing.

The move – which raises the spectre of the order given to the England football team to give a Nazi salute in Berlin in 1938 – immediately provoked a storm of protest.

The controversial clause has been inserted into athletes' contracts for the first time and forbids them from making any political comment about countries staging the Olympic Games.

It is contained in a 32-page document that will be presented to all those who reach the qualifying standard and are chosen for the team.

From the moment they sign up, the competitors – likely to include the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips and world record holder Paula Radcliffe – will be effectively gagged from commenting on China's politics, human rights abuses or illegal occupation of Tibet.

Prince Charles has already let it be known that he will not be going to China, even if he is invited by Games organisers.

His views on the Communist dictatorship are well known, after this newspaper revealed how he described China's leaders as “appalling old waxworks” in a journal written after he attended the handover of Hong Kong. The Prince is also a long-time supporter of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan leader.

Yesterday the British Olympic Association (BOA) confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that any athlete who refuses to sign the agreements will not be allowed to travel to Beijing.

Read more...

* Shameful picture of England squad giving Nazi salute still haunts British sport. Why, 70 years later, do we still suck up to dictators?

Should a competitor agree to the clause but then speak their mind about China, they will be put on the next plane home.

The clause, in section 4 of the contract, simply states: “[Athletes] are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues.”

It then refers competitors to Section 51 of the International Olympic Committee charter, which “provides for no kind of demonstration, or political, religious or racial propaganda in the Olympic sites, venues or other areas”.

Zara Phillips and Toytown

Contention: the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips stands to be among the athletes who will be forced to sign the gagging order

The BOA took the decision even though other countries – including the United States, Canada, Finland, and Australia – have pledged that their athletes would be free to speak about any issue concerning China.

To date, only New Zealand and Belgium have banned their athletes from giving political opinions while competing at the Games.

Simon Clegg, the BOA's chief executive, said: “There are all sorts of organisations who would like athletes to use the Olympic Games as a vehicle to publicise their causes.

“I don't believe that is in the interest of the team performance.

“As a team we are ambassadors of the country and we have to conform to an appropriate code of conduct.”

However, human rights campaigner Lord David Alton condemned the move as “making a mockery” of the right to free speech.

The controversial decision to award the Olympics to Beijing means this year's Games have the potential to be the most politically charged since 1936.

Adolf Hitler used the Munich Games that year to glorify his Nazi regime, although his claims of Aryan superiority were undermined by black American athlete Jesse Owens winning four gold medals.

More recently, there was a mass boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

But Colin Moynihan – now BOA chairman Lord Moynihan – defied Margaret Thatcher's calls for British athletes to stay at home and won a silver medal as cox of the men's eight rowing team.

Former Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent has already criticised the Chinese authorities over the training methods used on children, which he regarded as tantamount to abuse.

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England Nazi salute Berlin 1938 Olympics

Past shame: The England team give Nazi salutes at the 1938 Berlin Olympics, a memory which critics do not want to see recalled in China

Young gymnasts told him they were repeatedly beaten during training sessions.

Mr Clegg confirmed that such criticisms would be banned under the team's code of conduct, which will be in force from when athletes are selected in July, until the end of the Games on August 24.

Mr Clegg said: “During the period of the contract, that sort of action would be in dispute with the team-member agreement.

“There are all sorts of sanctions that I can apply. I had to send a team member home in Sydney because they breached our sponsorship agreement and that is the first time it happened.

“I have to act in the interest of the whole British team, not one individual. No athlete is above being part of the team.

“There is a requirement on team members to sign the agreement. If athletes step out of line, action will have to be taken.”

Darren Campbell, Olympic relay gold winner at the 2004 Games in Athens, said the BOA's move would “heap extra pressure on athletes”. But he added: “We are there to represent our country in sporting terms, just as our Army do when they go off to war. It is not supposed to be about politics.”

The BOA is taking a far more stringent stance than authorities in other countries. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said: “What we will be saying to the athletes is that it's best to concentrate on your competitions.

“But they're entitled to have their opinions and express them. They're free to speak.”

Jouko Purontakanen, secretary general of the Finnish Olympic Committee, said: “We will not be issuing instructions on the matter. The freedom of expression is a basic right that cannot be limited.

“But the starting point is that we will go to Beijing to compete, not to talk politics.”

Political gestures have been made at previous Olympics, most famously in Mexico City in 1968 when black American 200m champion Tommie Smith and bronze medallist John Carlos raised their fists in a black power salute.

Both were suspended from the US Olympic team and barred from the Olympic village.

Forty years on, British athletes face similar sanctions if they highlight the abuse of human rights in China.

Last night Edward McMillan-Scott, Conservative MEP and the European Parliament vice-president, predicted a public outcry over the BOA's move.

He said: “Foreign Secretary David Miliband is off to China soon. But before he gets on the plane, he and the rest of the Government should tell the BOA to take this clause out of the agreement.”

Potentially the contract means that a British athlete who witnesses someone being mistreated on the way to a stadium is forbidden from even speaking to their colleagues about it.

Competitors emailing home or writing blogs will also have to exercise self-censorship – or face having their Olympic dreams ruined.

Lord Alton said: “It is extraordinary to bar athletes from expressing an opinion about China's human-rights record. About the only justification for participating in the Beijing Games is that it offers an opportunity to encourage more awareness about human rights.

“Imposing compulsory vows of silence is an affront to our athletes, and in China it will be viewed as acquiescence.

“Each year 8,000 executions take place in China, political and religious opinion is repressed, journalists are jailed and the internet and overseas broadcasts are heavily censored.

“For our athletes to be told that they may not make any comment makes a mockery of our own country's belief in free speech.”

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To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

Officer of Engineers

Olympics? Free speech? Since When?

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Chimo

Adux

Its a sports meet, and not some political venue.

T_igger_cs_30

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FEAR NAUGHT

I don't work here ...I am an analyst!

glyn

T_igger_cs_30

Skull6

I agree that the event is a sports endeavor, & not a political one. But if one were asked over a breakfast of alphafa sprouts & bean curds what their personal opinion of something is, I feel that they should be free to answer the question.

The overt political declamation has no place at the event. But the personal sharing of knowledge & opinions is a small part of what has made the entire event such a success over the years. Many international friends have been made in this manner, assisting in better international understanding on all sides, imo.

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If you know the enemy and yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. - Sun Tzu

Dreadnought

IMO All of the athletes and the countries they support should have said flat out no to signing anything. This is madness. And just think if all the athletes together said no then no Olympics. No money for China and its economy and no chance of them ever hosting it again. Problem solved. These people are under the impression that they can treat the people however they want and nobody (atletes) alike can criticise them. Sorry but I disagree and anybody that would sign such a contract is
ludicrous and helps support the way they treat their people in the end.

Sports or no sports I wont have anybody tell me that I cannot exercise my own free rights however I deem fit. Communism or no communism they can shove it straight up their red stared right denying asses. ****ing pompus asses!

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Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

Adux

Dreadnought,

Just dont go to their country.

Adu

Dreadnought

You will have to forgive the way that I percieve this. Any athlete or country that would sign such a document might as well turn and slap every countrymen/woman in the face and tell them that sports in more important then human rights. Because that is exactly the message they are sending by signing something so ludicrous. The Olympics should be removed from China period to a country that all can speak without fear of reprisal.

That country is in dire need of revolt and I hope I'm still alive to see it happen and succeed.

Adux

And why do you have to shout about "human rights in china" that too during the olympics. Why wait for the olympics. Media hog comes to my mind. I dont agree with document perse, but you are liable to abide their laws when in their land or you will end up in jail.

Dreadnought

IMO Every single human being has garenteed rights to their own self expression and opinion. This is not an amusment park where the admission is dont criticise how badly we treat the people and say nothing about it. You are basically saying that they are in the right and supporting the very idea by accepting this ********. You would have to silence me permanently before I would ever give in to such unrealistic treatment from any government. Real governments encourage your right to speak out. Otherwise change only comes at the hands of those who give you the permission to change things.
Sorry but my ancestors fought to protect those rights and this is not the voice of someone who kneels before such treatment of myself or any other decent human being.

I'd rather die on my feet like a tiger then kneel and accept such treatment of myself or others like a P***y! Just my opinion.

Adux

Dreadnought,

You are not Chinese citizen, Its not your place. Protect them in your country. if you go to theirs especially a country like China which has laws against these, You will end up in Jail. Britain doesnt want to be in a diplomatic situation that they cannot win. This not chad where you can have Sarkozy fly up there and release prisoners.

I understand if we stand by Chinese Human rights activist, give them support in our country. State our views where we have the protection. If you get your ass in jail,in China. British government will try, but there is nothing the British High Commission can do. Why create that problem for your government. Shout and Picket all you want in your host country.
I believe citizens also have some responsbilities towards the government, such as not making uneccessay fights, especially in countries where you cant win.

I wouldnt say that if a Chinese national was fighting for Human rights in China, this is different. if you are not Chinese, so dont go to China and shout anti-governmental slogans, cuz you will land in jail.

Dreadnought

Fair enough, I posted my views and they are unwavering in that sense. And I would state the very same to any Chinese official that tells me what I can and cant say.

Why is it that the people that choose where those Olympics are held do not remove them from such a country that chooses to hide the way that they treat decent human beings. Whomever is on that council that chooses the country should be deeply ashamed of allowing such rights violations to happen in particular to the contract itself. In essence they are violation OUR RIGHTS as China does not own the Olympics proper. The entire world does so how and why can China make such rules. The are an embarassement to the entire civilized world and as stated above IMO all countries should boycott. That would send a very strong message to their own government about how the world feels about the rights mis use and we as free countries should be the very first to stand and say no exceptions. That is the only way that things change. I would sooner spit in their face then sign that document!

Adux

I wouldnt if I was in China, I am not ready to spend time in Chinese Jail and make the Indian High commission go haywire. Just to get a brownie point over some lowly paid Chinese officer. But then again, You might see me in New Delhi in front of the Chinese embassies. I dont buy Chinese products if it can be avoided, in support of my tibetian friends and personally their our enemies and have armed Pakistan to teeth.

They shouldnt have awarded China in the first place, Boycott, it is something that I support.

lol