Was the British Olympic Association right to lift the restriction on UK athletes speaking out on China?
We have had an athletes agreement for years. The BOA managed to put in a clause which prevented athletes from speaking out that went beyond rule 51 of the Olympic charter. As soon as they realised, they promptly amended the agreement. What if athletes protest at the Olympics? The IOC will enforce Rule 51 of their charter, which says people may not make political propaganda or statements within the Olympic sites. That includes the village and the stadia. For example, Paula Radcliffe will not be allowed to run the marathon wearing a protesting T-shirt. If she wishes to express views outwith the Olympic sites, she will be free to do so. What about the famous black-gloved protest at the 1968 Mexico Games? What if this is repeated? If it’s inside an Olympic site, that will not be allowed. If the IOC go down that route, they put themselves in the political world. That would ruin the Games. They must not do that. My own view is that most athletes are so concentrated on performance – this is t
