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IOC clears up athlete protest rules
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More from OlympicsAthletes who bust out their "Free Tibet" T-shirts or raise their fists in a show of solidarity on the medal stand will be breaking the rules at the Beijing Olympics.
What Olympic leaders will do to those who flout those rules, however, is still anybody's guess.
With the Beijing Games less than 100 days away, the IOC clarified its protest rules Monday, saying that athletes' external appearance, clothing and gestures would be scrutinized at the Olympic venues.
The IOC sent a six-point letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, to the national Olympic federations in response to their request for interpretations of Rule 51.3 of the Olympic charter. That rule states "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."
The letter expanded on the rule, saying: "The conduct of participants at all sites, areas and venues includes all actions, reactions, attitudes or manifestations of any kind by a person or group of persons, including but not limited to their look, external appearance, clothing, gestures, and written or oral statements."
But there were no guidelines about possible punishment, which kept in step with IOC president Jacque Rogge's stance. Asked about Rule 51 last month, he said, "I'm not in a sanction mode, definitely not."
The IOC has been pressed of late to offer more guidance in light of recent protests over Tibet and China's crackdown on dissenters.
Last month, Rogge said IOC officials will use common sense to decide whether athletes are simply celebrating victories or using them to make political statements.
"Freedom of expression is something that is absolute. It's a human right. Athletes have it," Rogge said.
— The Associated Press
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