Is Beijing Trying to Silence All Olympic Athletes?
Olympics February 11th. 2008, 1:24pm
According to the Daily Mail of London, that appears to be the case. The paper claims that all athletes who compete in the Olympics this August will be forced to sign a contract that “forbids them from making any political comment about countries staging the Olympic Games … effectively [gagging them] from commenting on China’s politics, human rights abuses or illegal occupation of Tibet.” Well, this certainly figures to be a significant story over the next six months.
Tough spot for US athletes – do you refuse to sign the document and brazenly make a stand, thus ensuring you won’t participate in something you’ve worked most of your life toward … or do you just say to hell with the document, zip your lip, and go for the gold?
Perhaps Zou will blog about this.
Britain kow tows to China as athletes are forced to sign no criticism contracts (Daily Mail)
36 Responses to “Is Beijing Trying to Silence All Olympic Athletes?”
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February 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I couldn’t care less what athletes think about things in China and would rather not hear it so I hope they keep their mouths shut.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Bloggers don’t have to sign that contract do they?
February 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
all the athletes have to wear masks when training because the pollution is so bad in Beijing
that sounds appealing to me if i were a tourist
February 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
If I were an athlete, I would probably refuse to sign this document. You follow the laws of the land you’re in. While in China I wouldn’t say a word, mainly because they’d lock em up and throw away the key. When I was home though, I would say whatever the hell I want because We have that whole freedom of speech thing here.
But then again, I haven’t worked my entire life for this one moment so it’s easy for me to be on a high horse
February 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
What’s the Over/Under on the number of track athletes who are going to choke to death on the air pollution over there?
February 11th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I would go, keep quiet, compete, then make a stand and watch them try to take away the medal (if I won one).
February 11th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Begs the question: How the hell did China get the Olympics in the first place?
On an unrelated subject, take a look at this.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Hey, our American athletes know the drill. Sign the contract, go ahead and speak freely, claim you did not understand, and take the next plane home (only after your event is finished).
And, having the cell number of your friendly China based American diplomat would be recommended.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Geez, 412, give us a heads up on the site next time. I love getting the “Forbidden” message at work.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
@ 412:
kudos to you bro for those pics.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Sorry, GYD.
I’m a big Hayden fan.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
She’s a hottie yo.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
New ending to Clue: The Movie: “Democracy was just a red-herring.”
February 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
marrissa miller ipod 412
February 11th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Dammit, that stupid Hollywood Tuna site never works for me, I always get the banner at the top and nothing else.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I will be damned if I’m going to sit here and listen to you call the Hollywood Tuna site “stupid”!
February 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I clicked on the Win a free IPOD ad last week/ Wish me luck guys and gals.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Sorry 412 but any idea why it doesn’t work for me? It’s the same deal at home as at work.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
cbh49er… You may have to turn the NetNanny
February 11th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
actually, make that IPHONE. but it also gave me a chance to win an IPOD as well.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
cbh your not missing much my friend. on a 1-10 scale, the site ranks a 4 in my book as far as pictures of tail go. try this if you can get in from work
http://www.gexo.com
help you waste time
February 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
turn the NetNanny off, rather
February 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Trust me, there is no netnanny here.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
irish – that is a pr0n site. I don’t think most people want that showing up on their cache.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Another cache cleaning on the way.
No problem, 412, I got lazy and forgot to check where the link was pointing…
February 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
412 hey is it i dont know i cant click on it
PEOPLE DONT CLICK ON MY LINK AT WORK NSFW
SORRY DIDNT KNOW NSFW
February 11th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
how do u clean the cache out on firefox
thanks in advance
February 11th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
yeah, just sign it and then say whatever you want anyway. china will look ridiculous if they try to enforce whatever penalties they put in these ‘contracts’.
china and western media are both going to get a rude awakening when those games take place. china – because they will have NO control what most of the journalists say and do (except probably nbc will probably still be pussies) and the media because china is a dirty dirty shithole.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Google doesn’t see what the big deal is.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Ha! Filthy Canadians!
February 11th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Unfortunately with the economic relationship the U.S. has with China there isn’t a chance in hell that we boycott these games but I really think that it should be considered. Human Rights are non-existent in China and to simply play along with it is a joke. American athletes can say something and get away with it but if a Chinese athlete does they will end up working in a coal mine.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Tools -> Clear Private Data
February 11th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
post of the day, mike nyc
February 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I saw that story CorM, I posted it in the hockey discussion.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
thanks pki and ill be hitting that site up when i get home
February 11th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
you can thank my office partner for that site mmonast