CHina’s Olympic organizers draw the attention of the participants in the Winter Games to the threat of the harshness of the Chinese laws in the event of unwelcome expressions of opinion. “Any expression consistent with the Olympic spirit will certainly be protected. Any behavior or expression that goes against it can be punished with a specific punishment, especially if it violates Chinese law or rules,” said Yang Shu, deputy director-general for international relations of the organizing committee for the Winter Games, which begins on Feb. 4 Tuesday in Beijing.
The Olympic Charter prohibits political speech in Rule 50.2, but the International Olympic Committee issued new guidelines last year that stated that expressions of opinion are permissible away from the podium and the field of play. In addition, German field hockey player Nike Lorenz was allowed to wear a rainbow-colored captain’s armband at the Tokyo Summer Games. The IOC’s guidance on Rule 50.2 states that “athletes are expected to respect the relevant laws”. In China, these are extremely vague and open to interpretation when it comes to expressing opinions.
