IOC to crack down on political statements

I'm in two minds about the Olympics and the politicisation of them this year.

On one hand, I can see why people want to keep politics out of it. It's a competition, nothing more.

Yet on the other, by holding it in Beijing the IOC is opening up a huge can of worms that it apparently isn't ready to address.

I don't think boycotting will really do anything. It means more if politicians boycott it than sports people. And if television viewers don't watch it, it can hit the hip pocket of organisations who advertise during the coverage. Plus, if people don't actually pay to go to Beijing, it shows the IOC and China how the world really feels.

But I'm not naive enough to thing that people won't watch or attend, even if they are fully versed in China's human rights record.

I think it's pretty obvious that, despite my mixed feelings, I do ultimately come down on the side of people protesting and boycotting. I'd be quite surprised with myself if I didn't.

Today the IOC announced that they will be cracking down on athletes making political statements.

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. (my emphasis).

Forty years after it happened, the Black Power salute of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City still sticks in the minds of people all around the world. It was silent. It was respectful. It was powerful. It was the perfect political statement.

Of course, the IOC want none of that.

It gets better:

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.

So the IOC have learnt from China - fear is a great way to keep people in line.

I say fuck the IOC. If they are willing to hang athletes out to dry because of the committee's poor choices, then they should be hung out to dry themselves.