Saying “freedom of expression is a human right,” International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Thursday clarified the IOC’s position regarding political remarks by athletes at the Beijing Games.
A day after the Olympic Torch Relay in San Francisco ignited a clash among supporters and opponents of the Chinese regime, Rogge explained his interpretation of a clause in the Olympic Charter which discourages political displays during the Games.
Rule 51.3 stipulates that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or areas.” Some wondered if that meant athletes speaking their minds faced sanction by the IOC.
Before or during the Beijing Games, athletes are apt to be asked to express opinions on domestic political repression in China, as well as China’s behavior in Tibet and its support for Sudanese atrocities in Darfur.
“A person’s ability to express his or her opinion is a basic human right and as such does not need to have a specific clause in the Olympic Charter because its place is implicit,” Rogge declared in a meeting of national Olympic Committees in Beijing.
“But we do ask that there is no propaganda nor demonstrations at Olympic Games venues for the very good and simple reason that we have 205 countries and territories represented, many of whom are in conflict, and the Games are not the place to take political nor religious stances.”
Rogge said enforcement of rule 51.3 would be guided by “common sense” and called on national Olympic committees to protect their athletes from outside pressures to speak out.
“If athletes genuinely want to express their opinion, that’s fine,” Rogge said. “But let’s not forget, there is also the right not to express an opinion. Athletes should feel no moral obligation to speak out. They deserve the right to focus on their preparations and should not be made to feel obliged to express themselves if they do not wish to.”
