Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom - World Press ...

Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom
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All the officials of the Norwegian delegation have been run through a scenario work shop
run by the security branch of our police, and just last week, a report by the Norwegian
Institute of Foreign Policy was sent to all the athletes along with a legal evaluation of
possible consequences of various forms of expression. We have also sought and will follow
the advice of the Foreign Ministry regarding international situations that may occur.
Norwegian Olympic athletes have a right - a human right - of freedom of speech. They
may speak out on human right questions in China, before and during the Games.
Naturally, they decide on their own participation, and may decide not to take part in the
opening and closing ceremonies if they so choose.
But the main focus of these athletes, after years and years of intense training, is on
performing to their utmost during the Olympics. On that account, we must also respect
the athletes that do not want to become engaged or to speak out. For example, we know
that our handball team will not participate in the opening ceremony, but this is because of
athletic, performance-related reasons. A very limited number of athletes chose, for
performance-related reasons, not to participate in the opening ceremony in Athens in
2004. Hours of waiting, standing around in the heat and so on, were reasons enough not
to take part. No one questioned their decision. Will anyone accept the same argument this
time, or will non-participation in the ceremonies be linked to the boycott issue?
Athletes may not use the Olympic arenas for demonstrations, however, and in choosing to
participate, we have accepted the Olympic charter and will play by the rules.
Some of our best athletes have chosen to speak out on human rights in partnership with
Amnesty International and have been encouraged to do so if they, as individuals, felt it
was important. Our President, Ms Paule, has told me that she is proud of these athletes –
and, of course, she should be.
We also hope that the organizations utilizing this opportunity to highlight human rights
issues or the Tibet situation will seek and find other venues and arenas in addition to the
arena of sport to influence the government of China. Because there are, of course, other
possibilities, including trade. For example, all the clothes, all the shoes and all the
equipment worn and used by all the athletes, are probably made in China.
The Norwegian sports organizations have sought information about the situation in China,
often with the help of Amnesty International. We have shown, through our actions and
speech, that we do care about human rights. We have not tried to excuse atrocities and
we have challenged our politicians and the International Olympic Committee to raise
human rights issues with the relevant authorities in China.
Just last week in Beijing, [the International Olympic Committee's President, Jacques]
Rogge raised the possibility of the athletes, even in the mixed zone after their events,
being allowed to clearly express their views on any matter. Influencing the human rights
situation in China is a long-term task in which the Olympics are just a milestone, although
an important one, where I believe that NIF can be proud of its position and its actions.