If you were a British Athlete

Margaret Pilkington · 10-02-2008, 15:14

If you were one of the British team of athletes due to go to Biejing for the olympic games, would you be happy to sign the clause that prohibits you from speaking out about political situations in China?

cashman · 10-02-2008, 15:21

probably yes, dont believe the 2 should mix. whilst i disagree with much of what happens in china, dont think its owt to do with the athletes.

glasgow guy · 10-02-2008, 16:48

I dont think it would really interest me as I would be too focused on what I am actually there for...

Margaret Pilkington · 10-02-2008, 19:00

I don't think sport and politics should be mixed, but then given the China's record of poor human rights, it could be a simple comment that got you thrown out of the games.

katex · 10-02-2008, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

If you were one of the British team of athletes due to go to Biejing for the olympic games, would you be happy to sign the clause that prohibits you from speaking out about political situations in China?

Are they actually asking for this Margaret ? Do all countries do this when hosting the Olympic games ? Can understand it in a way, what with past public political gestures by athletes.

As a bit of a gob sh1te .. might find it a little difficult to keep it shut if I noticed any inhuman treatment due to their politics ..

Margaret Pilkington · 10-02-2008, 19:12

Apparently there was a clause inserted in the code of conduct sometime in the 60's, after some athletes made some racial salutes when they were being given their medals. (Malcolm X type salute with a closed fist)

It is a good job I am NOT an athlete(the only thing that can run is my nose)because I
would have a very hard time keeping my mouth shut over human rights issues.

I also think that in this country, we take free speech so much for granted that we could breach the rules inadvertently by mentioning something that wasn't seen to be political.

It seems like everything has political overtones in China.

katex · 10-02-2008, 19:23

[QUOTE=Margaret Pilkington;529369
It is a good job I am NOT an athlete(the only thing that can run is my nose)because I
would have a very hard time keeping my mouth shut over human rights issues.

[/QUOTE]

LOL .. me too Margaret, however, if I were an athlete, and trained so hard to get to the Olympics, think I would be willing to sign anything really to further my ambitions .. would just have to learn how to control my tongue I suppose.

Margaret Pilkington · 10-02-2008, 19:42

I think I could learn to run fast sooner than I could learn to control my tongue Katex.

cashman · 10-02-2008, 19:55

would suppose most athletes do not give a stuff about polical matters, of coarse there will be exceptions, think most are fully focused on being the best in there field.

Margaret Pilkington · 10-02-2008, 19:59

You are right Cashy, but sometimes we forget that other countries do not have the same liberal attitude to free speech and an off the cuff comment can be interpreted as something political........the Chinese Goverment are very strict.

cashman · 10-02-2008, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

You are right Cashy, but sometimes we forget that other countries do not have the same liberal attitude to free speech and an off the cuff comment can be interpreted as something political........the Chinese Goverment are very strict.

yep i have nothing but disdain for the Chinese Goverment,but then i aint an athlete.

Less · 10-02-2008, 20:18

I don't suppose the Olympic games will ever be without it's political links. The Americans Almost put a boycott on the 1936 Olympics because of Hitlers attitude to the Jews, Also in 1984 The Russians pulled out of the Los Angeles Olympics.

NAZI OLYMPICS BERLIN 1936

1984: Moscow pulls out of US Olympics

shakermaker · 10-02-2008, 20:27

With the amount of inevitable political idiocy surrounding an international sports event there, why was it even considered to be the host? Munich '72 anyone? I know it isn't the same but still politically charged climates.

It would be an incredibly hard decision for athletes to make, especially for ones who may not get another chance at the games.

steeljack · 10-02-2008, 22:25

Politics have no place in the Olympics , anyone remember the outrage with the Black Power salutes at the 68 games in mexico city
1968 Olympics Black Power salute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Margaret Pilkington · 11-02-2008, 07:45

I think it was because of this, that the clause about political, religious, or racial demonstrations, was included in the code of conduct.