Athletes' human rights gag denied

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A new clause in the contract Olympians must sign before competing in Beijing this year insists they must not comment on politically-sensitive issues during the Games. Athletes who breach the contract could face being sent home from Beijing this summer.

The British Olympic Association denied trying to gag competitors, insisting they were free to answer questions but should not use the Games as a soapbox for political concerns.

But Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said the move was part of a pattern of British "kow-towing" to the communist regime.

"It's extremely disappointing. It's part of a pattern of us kow-towing to the Chinese communist authorities," he told BBC1's Politics Show. "We have to be very clear with the Chinese: they now play a significant role in the world economy and international affairs.

"That brings certain domestic responsibilities with it and I think for us to sort of gag ourselves is a real abdication of our moral responsibility to push for human rights wherever they are being abused."

Pointing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent visit to China, he said: "Unlike Tony Blair and certainly unlike President Sarkozy from France, Chancellor Merkel from Germany and even President Bush from the United States, he said nothing publicly on China's appalling human rights record."

A new clause in the 32-page contract reads: "(Athletes) are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues," the Mail on Sunday reported.

It also refers athletes, likely to include marathon runner Paula Radcliffe and the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, to Section 51 of the IOC charter which restricts demonstrations of "political propaganda" on Olympic sites.

Human rights groups accused the British Olympic Association of betraying the spirit of the Games and urged them to reverse their position. But a spokesman for the BOA said: "Clearly what we are not trying to do is suppress comment or debate from our athletes. If an individual is asked a direct question and makes a response that's fine."