| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 5/10/2008 9:59:29 PM | It was reported last night on the 6 pm evening news that the AOC - Australian Olympic Committee has well and truly lasped their rules regarding our Olympians voicing their political opinions.
The AOC have stated that if a Olympian wishes to make some sort of political stance/comment at the upcoming Olympic Games, they are allowed to do so, be it on the podium or at a press conference or via a "blog" without fear of retribution by the AOC.
However later this evening, on the ABC "Lateline" news it is now reported, that
Australian Olympic officials say athletes will not be gagged from making political comments, but they may be sent home if they do not ask permission first.
Members of the Australian Olympic team will be forced to sign an agreement that means they will have to ask permission to comment on human rights during the Beijing Games.
Confused ?
So does this situation beg to ask the question...Aren't the Olympic Games "supposed" to be above all of that ? - now we all know it's not..especially in light of the Tibet crisis - however should we be encouraging our atheletes to air their political views when the host nation is China (whether we like it or not) and technically all the athletes are visitors to their shores and guests in their country.
They are there to compete and show off their sporting prowess, not to be peace envoys, diplomats etc...they are supposed to be elite athletes there to compete against each other... ...should we at least TRY to keep sport and politics separate ? | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 5/11/2008 12:11:17 AM | Any member of any Australian team who is sent or represents Australia in any overseas country is always classified as an Ambassador for Australia, in everything he/she does..
My brother -in-law was a member of the Ten Pin Bowling teams called *Thunder Downunder,* He worked for the WA government railways in Perth, was given advance warning when he was leaving Australia to go to USA and New Zealand, that he was to regard himself as that, and that He WAS NOT to voice any opinion on any subject that would give the impression that Australia was in favour of anything ribald, defamitry or
embarrasing, as they could be charged with causing an affray.
but go for you life you could be the one gets away with it>    | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/4/2008 9:56:16 PM | | In my opinion.. to have an opinion in another country where they are all as one..I think that politics and sport should be kept separated..China is a one cultural place .. in saying that i think that the place is a dangerous one for anyone to be in.. all countries that are of one back ground in my opinion are dangerous and very racial.. | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:06:39 PM | | I think that the real question is how did china get the olympics in the first place, so i think the athletes would be well within there rights to complain about the country and all that stinks about it to teach them a lesson about being more careful about who gets the olympics next time.....i think they should be encouraged to have a political opinion | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:15:58 PM | | I wondered that myself.. how china got in the front running. But .. in saying that the chinese government are exceedingly savvy when it comes to business. Big Business I mean. Maybe this had something to do with it.. not so much sport and politics but sport and big business.. oil and water.. On both counts | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:32:19 PM | | Im thinking that china getting the Olympics just had to do with a marketing ploy to say that they have joined the world and aren't closed off through communism and totalitarianism anymore by having every nation there for the Olympics and also to show how far they have come in terms of economic power........so we can't have athletes or Tibetans anyone else with negative views spoil that now can we.......the other thing is that they are a big resources trading partner so the Olympic committee definitely doesn't want anything bad said. Australian government is just weak and won't stand up to anyone hence these ridiculous codes of conduct | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:39:38 PM | I remember watching a doco a fair while ago and if my memory serves me right it is so economically viable for big business to be in china, but the chinese have a policy about a certain amount of business or a percentage of the holdings must be dont in thier country in order for them to work out of china.. im talking global companies..microsoft, coke cola , BHP biliton..etc..
But thats all I really know about it. I may well be wrong. | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:57:10 PM | | I heard that what makes china really worthwhile for big big business is not only what you have said but also the fact that in china employee rights are non existant as well as environmental considerations.....apparently big business there can use the river as a dump and polution is a big problem for that reason....as long as they pay the officials off of course lol......china has made USA companies a great deal of money so the olympics are there thank you i guess | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 2:24:36 AM |
I think that the real question is how did china get the olympics in the first place, so i think the athletes would be well within there rights to complain about the country and all that stinks about it to teach them a lesson about being more careful about who gets the olympics next time.....i think they should be encouraged to have a political opinion
A very fair and transparent process actually.
On 13 July 2001 at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow, the Host City for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008 was elected by the IOC members. The candidates were Osaka, Paris, Toronto, Beijing and Istanbul.
These candidate cities must pass an initial selection phase during which basic technical requirements are examined by a team of experts and then put forward to the IOC Executive Board. Once approved by the Executive Board, the cities become official Candidate Cities and are authorised to go forward into the full bid process. The full bid process includes notably the submission of a Candidature File to the IOC, followed by the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission to each of the Candidate Cities. The Evaluation Commission studies the candidatures of each Candidate City, inspects the sites and submits a written report on all candidatures to the IOC two months before the Session which will elect the host city.
The result of the session 1 and 2 of the election were,
Beijing 44 and 56
Istanbul 17 and 9
Osaka 6 and 0
Paris 15 and 18
Toronto 20 and 22
As you can see Beijing won outright in both voting sessions.
122 IOC members went through a fair and transparent democratic voting process and found Beijing, China as the most suitable of the 5 candidates to hold the 2008 Olympic Games.
During the voting process Tibet was also a Provence of China. In fact Tibet has been a Provence of China for well in excess of a thousand years.
John Coates represents Australia on the IOC, maybe he voted for Beijing? Perhaps you should ask him? After all you wouldn't want to be waving your placards around in Beijing when a Chinese Policeman asks you "why" when your country voted for Beijing in the first place. I mean you'd just look silly!
Just wondering what WE would think and how WE would treat Olympians during the Sydney Olympics if all they wanted to do is demonstrate, protest and generally cause havoc because of Australia's politics? To abuse the whole Olympic Ideology, just because they thought that they were in the right, had inalienable privileges and are above the law?
Yep, without doubt we would arrest them, throw them in gaol or load up a 747 Jumbo or several of them and toss them out! Look at what happened to" The Chaser's War" when they had the audacity to approach President Bush's hotel in Sydney when he was in house. | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 3:15:46 AM | | The olympics are only only for competition, outside of competition the ideology does not come into it and can express an opinion if they wish...the chasers war on everthing had nothing to do with the expression of an opinion it had to do with security fears as they nearly got into the building and could have done something nasty.......if the olympic ideology in any case was so weak that it cannot handle the expression of opinions outside of it then it is a very weak institution indeed......I do not believe that one persons thoughts are representative of a nation such as voting for the host of the olympics anymore then the president of a country is of the thoughts of it's people on any particular issue......free speech is not to be repressed as it makes for a weak democracy and it makes progress for any government weak also. | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 4:39:03 AM |
The olympics are only only for competition, outside of competition the ideology does not come into it and can express an opinion if they wish.
And
if the olympic ideology in any case was so weak that it cannot handle the expression of opinions outside of it then it is a very weak institution indeed
The Olympic Charter, which by the way all athletes must sign an undertaking to abide by, includes the following:-
51 Advertising, Demonstrations, Propaganda.
51/3. No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.
Any violation of the provisions of the present clause may result in disqualification or withdrawal of the accreditation of the person concerned. The decisions of the IOC Executive Board regarding this matter shall be final.
(that’s the IOC Executive Board making the rules and punishments NOT China)
free speech is not to be repressed as it makes for a weak democracy and it makes progress for any government weak also.
The Olympics is not a democracy, never has been and athletes are required by the Olympic Charter to conform/abide by its rules both on and off the field of sporting competition.
Next I suppose you will advocate pre-departure SAS training and the “arming” of all the Australian Athletes that go to Beijing to compete in their fields of excellence SPORT! | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 5:06:29 AM | ^^^That is rediculous......i have not mentioned any violence of any kind and do not support violence of any kind..in fact im totally against any form of violence.
Im not talking about the olympics when i say that athletes can voice there opinions....your talking about during the olympics.....the olympics are only a sporting event but nothing should stop athletes from voicing an opinion outside of competition. I have never said that an athlete should bring politics into the medal ceremony for example. Why shouldn't the media comment on other issues on the news for example other then sporting news? If an individual or journalist wishes to bring up other issues on the news for example why shouldn't they? The media in china should not be exclusively for sporting news during the duration of the olympics. The olympics is not china, only an event in china.
I suppose next you will be supporting the governments of every country only allowing the media to allow comments that agree with the thoughts of the government and nothing else..and if anyone does they will be hung or jailed. | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 5:46:31 AM | Wow! That's huge.
If the athletes feel that strongly they should boycott it. Saying that, I don't believe they should be censored in any respect. They're professional people, in the public eye, with an opinion. China has a strong history of repressing it's people.
The Olympics proceeded during the 2nd World War .
I think it's a moot point. Although they're not approving by attending, they're not showing disapproval either.
I feel very sorry for our athletes. It's the peak of their career that takes a long time to get to.
Do you cut your nose of to spite your face? | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 9:08:38 AM |
Im not talking about the olympics when i say that athletes can voice there opinions....your talking about during the olympics.....the olympics are only a sporting event but nothing should stop athletes from voicing an opinion outside of competition.
Oh dear.......again as the IOC Executive Board have stated and it is noted in the Olympic Charter that all athletes sign and as such are in agreement with,
No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.
Once the Olympic Closing Ceremony has concluded, don’t be surprised if the Australian NOC has all athletes bundled onto a jumbo plane and in the air on their way back.
The Chinese didn’t make up these rules; they are the rules of the IOC and apply to every Olympic Games and to every host country. Don’t blame the Chinese, take it up with IOC or with the Aust.NOC as they will enforce the rules.
I suppose next you will be supporting the governments of every country only allowing the media to allow comments that agree with the thoughts of the government and nothing else..and if anyone does they will be hung or jailed.
^^^^As I’ve already said these are the rules of the IOC and are not, not, not, not, China’s rules. BTW the IOC is a predominantly western organization not an eastern or Chinese one and is a world body that is completely neutral and does not favour any one country above any other.
The Olympics proceeded during the 2nd World War .
That’s news to me because according to my history lessons the Olympics of 1940 and 1944 were cancelled due to WW2. They resumed in 1948, London, England........... Actually now that I’ve re-read your post, are you saying that we are involved in some sort of hostilities with China at the moment? Sorry just trying to fathom out why on earth WW2 was brought up as an example? | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/5/2008 6:17:02 PM | ^^^^^ it is not possible for any person to be completely neutral so how is it possible for any organisation to be completely neutral? i think you are living in a fools paradise if you think there is neutrality and there aren't any agenda's or issues that come to play and does not favour any country as people always have opinions on these things whether they admit it or not.
Why did china try to attack tibet if the olympics has nothing to do with politics....if what you say is true they would have followed the rules by not even bringing it up. China would simply have had standard security at the olympics and nothing more to make sure that it is a safe environment for event goers so clearly china does see it as a political setting so you have contradicted yourself. Why would china engage in political tactics if it is against the rules and must not be brought into it? Surely china should now no longer be allowed to run the olympics as they have allowed politics to be connected to the olympics as the athletes are allowed to? I think that for athletes to sign this agreement is a double standard as china is not following the rules and should not be allowed to run the olympics based on what you say are the rules. | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/6/2008 4:01:30 AM |
t is not possible for any person to be completely neutral so how is it possible for any organisation to be completely neutral? i think you are living in a fools paradise if you think there is neutrality and there aren't any agenda's or issues that come to play and does not favour any country as people always have opinions on these things whether they admit it or not.
OK.........I'm starting to believe you're just trolling!
For the last time the IOC is a politically neutral sporting body that is based in Switzerland.
The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894 by a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin who was inspired to revive the Olympic Games of Greek antiquity.
The IOC is an international non-governmental non-profit organisation and the creator of the Olympic Movement. The IOC exists to serve as an umbrella organisation of the Olympic Movement. It owns all rights to the Olympic symbols, flag, motto, anthem and Olympic Games. Its primary responsibility is to supervise the organisation of the summer and winter Olympic Games not side with any one country or political philosophy.
It has an Executive Board that consists of the IOC President whom at the present is Mr. Jacques Rogge (a Belgium), four Vice-Presidents and ten other members. All the members of the Executive Board are elected by the IOC Session, by secret ballot, by a majority of votes cast, for a four-year term.
Presently there is only one Chinaman on the Exec. Board a Mr. Zaiqing YU , not what I would deem as a overwhelmingly influencing force. His IOC history is Elected as Vice-President of the Chinese National Olympic Committee; member of the Executive Board (2004-); member of the following Commissions: International Relations (2002-); Radio and Television (2005-), Coordination for the Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012 (2005-).
Why did china try to attack tibet if the olympics has nothing to do with politics.
I think you've woken up one morning and believed everything you dreamed to be true?
When exactly did China "try" to attack Tibet over the Olympic Games or anything else for that matter??
Within the People's Republic of China, Tibet is identified with the Autonomous Region, which includes about half of historical Tibet, including the traditional provinces of Ü-Tsang and Kham (western half). Tibet is the second-largest province of China and has been for well over a thousand years. Britain recognised China's authority over Tibet in a 1904 treaty it signed with China which still stands to this day.
China would simply have had standard security at the olympics and nothing more to make sure that it is a safe environment for event goers so clearly china does see it as a political setting so you have contradicted yourself.
The Rules, by laws and Olympic Charter are set by the IOC not China. The IOC Exec. Board enacts, in the form it deems most appropriate, (codes, rulings, norms, guidelines, guides, instructions) all regulations necessary to ensure the proper implementation of the Olympic Charter and the organisation of the Olympic Games. Again NOT China!
Any host country is responsible for the security of events, athletes, arenas, villages and crowds and there's no such thing as "standard security" when it comes to the Olympics. This responsibility was assumed by the Fed. and NSW Govt's during the Sydney Olympics. What's your point???
Why would china engage in political tactics if it is against the rules and must not be brought into it?
Oh......pray tell! What are these political tactics.
Surely china should now no longer be allowed to run the olympics as they have allowed politics to be connected to the olympics as the athletes are allowed to? I think that for athletes to sign this agreement is a double standard as china is not following the rules and should not be allowed to run the olympics based on what you say are the rules.
Hmmm sigh........once again, perhaps you can provide examples of such duplicitous and reprehensible behavior, cause I ain't seen any? | |
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| I'm a Olympian, so can I have a Political Opinion while in China?
Posted: 6/6/2008 5:29:56 AM | Yeah, yeah yeah, we all reckon China is bullying the Tibetans... so what's new in that part of the world?
The Olympics are about elite sports. China is now hosting this event whether we're happy with it or not. Any athletes who go to Bejing are there as guests in that country and should respect the host country whether they support the nation's politics or not.
If you feel strongly enough about it then just stay home - that's the most honest protest one can make as an individual, and with enough support the games will be a farce.
Personally I don't agree that athletes representing their country at that level and competing in the true spirit of the game have any right to kick up any kind of stink in another country.
If you want to compete then go... compete and do your country proud.
If you want to make some political statement then have the guts to stay away. | |
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