Athletes to receive guidance on propaganda rules

Athletes will be given strict guidelines on what they can and cannot say to prevent them falling foul of Olympic rules on propaganda as the politically charged Beijing Games looms into sight.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told reporters yesterday that freedom of speech was a fundamental human right, but that guidelines would be issued to prevent further politicisation of the Aug. 8-24 Games.

"Freedom of expression is a human right (but) there are small restrictions," he said.

"We are a movement of 205 nationalities and many of those nationalities are in conflict with each other. There are religious divides, ethnic divides. We do not want this to be in evidence at the Olympic Games."

Athletes, who are coming under increasing pressure to speak out on human rights issues, have called for clear guidance on what they can and cannot say.

Under the terms of the Olympic Charter, competitors are banned from making political statements or gestures at Olympic ceremonies or venues and Rogge is determined that the already politically charged Games do not become a vehicle for propaganda.

Rogge said there would be "no limitations" on athletes, but did stress that propaganda would not be tolerated.

"They can speak freely (at Olympic sites) but what they cannot do is conduct propaganda there."

Rogge would not be drawn on what sanctions could be imposed on athletes who breach the regulations.

"I am not in sanction mode," he smiled. "What we are doing today is telling the athletes what they are entitled to do and what the restrictions are in the venues.

"The IOC will examine each case in its own merit."

Earlier this week, German fencer Claudia Bokel told the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees that athletes were concerned about what was going on in Tibet and called for guidelines.