Zip Your Lip On The China Trip

Speak freely about human rights at the games this summer and get sent packing.

UK Olympic team ‘must sign gagging order’

"ATHLETES competing in this summer’s Beijing Olympics will be required by British team organisers to sign a contract forbidding criticism of the host nation.
A new clause in the British Olympic Association’s (BOA) 32-page agreement states they should not comment “on any politically sensitive issues” and refers athletes to the International Olympic Committee charter which bans demonstrations or political, religious or racial propaganda in Olympic venues.
The agreement, which stretches back to the 1988 Seoul games, is particularly relevant this year because of China’s questionable human rights record and occupation of Tibet. (...)

The British team’s code of conduct will bind competitors from selection in July until the end of the games on August 24. Competitors who refuse to sign will effectively have ruled themselves out of selection and will not be allowed to travel. Those who break the agreement once the games start risk being sent home."