All the talk we hear on this site about human rights, should be interesting to see the response to this story. How many will be apologists for the Red Chinese?
LONDON — British Olympic athletes must sign a new clause in their contracts prohibiting politically sensitive remarks or gestures during the Beijing Games.
"The reality is, given the level of political scrutiny of the world's media on these games and the way China will handle them, the BOA felt it was sensible and proper to flag that rule to our athletes," British Olympic Association communications director Graham Mewson said Sunday.
The International Olympic Committee already has a rule that states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."
In January, Belgian athletes were told they would be prohibited from raising human rights or other political issues at Olympic venues. Outside the sports venues and Olympic village, however, they will be free to speak their mind.
The BOA is making the change because China's government is widely regarded as sensitive to criticism over issues such as its human rights record and Tibet, Mewson said.
British athletes have been required to sign the 32-page BOA contract for 20 years before competing in the Olympics, but this is the first time such a clause is being added.
Mewson said the clause will not bar British athletes from "honestly answering" questions they are asked during interviews at the Aug. 8-24 games about "politically sensitive issues."
"An athlete who decides to lift up his team shirt to show a 'Free Tibet' one below it, that's very different," Mewson said
Comments welcomed.
Originally posted by SMSBear716Sounds similar to the last 5 US/China summits. And very similar to the last 5 Canada/China summits too.....just so you don't think i'm a US basher.
All the talk we hear on this site about human rights, should be interesting to see the response to this story. How many will be apologists for the Red Chinese?
LONDON — British Olympic athletes must sign a new clause in their contracts prohibiting politically sensitive remarks or gestures during the Beijing Games.
"The reality is, given the level ee Tibet' one below it, that's very different," Mewson said
Comments welcomed.
The fact is this. We recognize change in China is not going to happen overnight. It will be a slow decades long progress that has only begun in earnest in this past decade.
By sticking our noses in their business, it will only slow china's progression to modern values. It wasn't so long ago in our own countries that women and black people were treated as less than human and subserviants. The fact that they are a little bit behind us is not reason to suddenly declare ourselves morally superior when we ourselves have a very checkered and shady past.
Give it time.
Originally posted by uzlessApologist number 1 and here I thought it was going to be Shav.
Sounds similar to the last 5 US/China summits. And very similar to the last 5 Canada/China summits too.....just so you don't think i'm a US basher.
The fact is this. We recognize change in China is not going to happen overnight. It will be a slow decades long progress that has only begun in earnest in this past decade.
By sticking our noses in the ...[text shortened]... es morally superior when we ourselves have a very checkered and shady past.
Give it time.
Originally posted by SMSBear716Anybody who puts their careers (sporting or otherwise) ahead of human rights is an egocentrical putz.
All the talk we hear on this site about human rights, should be interesting to see the response to this story. How many will be apologists for the Red Chinese?
LONDON — British Olympic athletes must sign a new clause in their contracts prohibiting politically sensitive remarks or gestures during the Beijing Games.
"The reality is, given the level ...[text shortened]... ee Tibet' one below it, that's very different," Mewson said
Comments welcomed.
Obviously some people will feel that China doesn't break human rights. That's up to them.
But, I feel that if you do think China is breaking human rights, then you certainly shouldn't be signing any such clauses.
This story was on the BBC yesterday morning as well, with a photo of the English football squad in the 30's saluting Hitler.
Originally posted by shavixmir(smiles) I knew in my heart you wouldn't be an apologist for the Chinese government. You haven't disappointed me a bit.
Sorry to disappoint you.
Your too much of an anarchist... you despise all governments, all rule of law, etc etc.
Least thats what I gather from your posts
Originally posted by SMSBear716Oh, it's a disgrace, but politicians, British or otherwise, are oddly shameless. Then again, this just make the Olympics a little more interesting. I look forward to some bloody clashes with the police.
All the talk we hear on this site about human rights, should be interesting to see the response to this story. How many will be apologists for the Red Chinese?
Why haven't y'all invaded China, by the way? The population would welcome your troops with flowers.
Has anyone else missed the irony here: It is the British government's own stated position that China's record on human rights is miserable and that the invasion and occupation of Tibet is immoral, yet it insists that its own athletes, who are representing Great Britain as ambassadors, not say anything bad about China's human rights record or its shabby treatment of Tibet. Hello Mr. Kettle, my name is Mr. Pot.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI wasn't aware that the United Kingdom is ruled by the British Olympic Committee. Something will have to be done about that,
Has anyone else missed the irony here: It is the British government's own stated position that China's record on human rights is miserable and that the invasion and occupation of Tibet is immoral, yet it insists that its own athletes, who are representing Great Britain as ambassadors, not say anything bad about China's human rights record or its shabby treatment of Tibet. Hello Mr. Kettle, my name is Mr. Pot.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageWe are hoping to foment enough internal dissent so that the Chinese people rise up (or at least enough to do the job) and kill all the Communist Party members in their sleep. Its a a CIA/NSA run operation.
Oh, it's a disgrace, but politicians, British or otherwise, are oddly shameless. Then again, this just make the Olympics a little more interesting. I look forward to some bloody clashes with the police.
Why haven't y'all invaded China, by the way? The population would welcome your troops with flowers.
We were going to invade, but we stopped and thought, why should we have all the fun, like the people being repressed get some personal satisfaction.
Originally posted by SMSBear716Apologist? More like realist. Learn how real politcs are done in this century. Sure it sux and it would be nice if china treated their citizens better.
Apologist number 1 and here I thought it was going to be Shav.
I woulda thought a neo-con like yourself would not be pushing a left wing agenda.
Besides, what do you care about human rights in China? You yanks buy just about everything you possibly can from China despite the human rights violations in the factories.
"Hey treat your workers better china!....Huh, oh thanks for that 5 dollar t shirt...now where was I, Oh ya, treat your workers better!"
Hypocritical no? 😞
Originally posted by SMSBear716I guess all the Far East experience has made you take the long view of things.
We are hoping to foment enough internal dissent so that the Chinese people rise up (or at least enough to do the job) and kill all the Communist Party members in their sleep. Its a a CIA/NSA run operation.
Originally posted by uzlessI get my clothes from Indonesia .... the slave labor is cheaper there. My Toshiba laptop was made in China though, but fear not, I have had it swept for 'bugs' and any other spying devices several times.
Apologist? More like realist. Learn how real politcs are done in this century. Sure it sux and it would be nice if china treated their citizens better.
I woulda thought a neo-con like yourself would not be pushing a left wing agenda.
Besides, what do you care about human rights in China? You yanks buy just about everything you possibly can from ...[text shortened]... 5 dollar t shirt...now where was I, Oh ya, treat your workers better!"
Hypocritical no? 😞
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterWell, looking at it from an ambassador's role (diplomatic):
Has anyone else missed the irony here: It is the British government's own stated position that China's record on human rights is miserable and that the invasion and occupation of Tibet is immoral, yet it insists that its own athletes, who are representing Great Britain as ambassadors, not say anything bad about China's human rights record or its shabby treatment of Tibet. Hello Mr. Kettle, my name is Mr. Pot.
It's best to leave criticism of the regime to politicians and diplomats. Use the athletes to build good will and in so doing buy influence within the regime.
This will probably have a higher rate of success than direct critique.
(friction only leading to more friction, where as if you get people to like you, you can have a greater chance of influencing things the way you want to).
Presumably, getting your athletes to sign such a horrific declaration comes with a price.
As an individual athlete (which I'm not... unless drinking beer is a new Olympic category) I would not sign it. Out of principle.
But as a longer term tool for change, it could be a good idea. I can't tell. And neither can you, unless you're in the British diplomatic core and know their goals.
Obviously this raises the question of appeasement and the English team in the 30's giving the nazi salute. God only knows what the hell was going on there...