Top Russian Official Overrules IOC President: Athletes Banned From Protesting
var addthis_config = {“data_track_addressbar”:true};
The Chief Executive of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, a Russian hand-picked by President Vladimir Putin himself to oversee every detail of the Olympics, says the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was wrong to claim Olympic athletes are allowed to protest.
Organizing chief Dmitry Chernyshenko, a high-ranking government official even prior to Putin elevating him to head the Games, told reporters on a conference call today, “I don’t think they [athletes] are allowed by the Charter to express those views that are not related to the sport at the press conference room.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports Chernyshenko’s “position appears to directly contradict International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who said athletes were permitted to make political statements at press conferences.”
Earlier this week, IOC President Thomas Bach had promised that every athlete would have the “freedom of speech.” The Telegraph added that “in his final media address before departing for Russia, Bach made it clear athletes would have a forum to air their views on the many controversies to have dogged Russia in the build-up to his first Games as IOC president.”
Chernyshenko noted that Bach “might have mentioned that there is a rule 50 in the Olympic Charter which limits the expression of any propaganda during the Games.” Reuters reports that “Chernyshenko, who headed Sochi’s successful bid seven years ago, said should athletes want to speak out about issues they could do so in a special location in the city, away from the Olympic venues.”
“What I would call the Sochi speakers’ corner has been organized in Sochi city so that everybody can express themselves,” Chernyshenko said.
That’s far from retaining their “freedom of speech.”
Should an athlete run afoul of the laws, or the Olympic rules, they could be kicked out of the Games — and out of the country, possibly after sitting in jail for a few weeks.
Image via Sochi 2014
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.