Any Kiwi athlete who stands on the Olympic podium and protests about human rights is likely to be sent home, New Zealand Games officials have warned.
Amid ongoing public debate about freedom of speech, NZ Olympic Committee secretary general Barry Maister yesterday clarified the sanctions which would be
faced by team members who flagrantly breached the agreement they have signed.
He also made clear that the harshest of penalties was reserved for Olympic venues, the village and the podium.
"If someone wants to get up and make a dick of themselves on the podium _ and I don't suspect for a moment that it's going to happen _ then there is a range of options," Maister said yesterday. "And if it's proved that ... they did, then they would be in breach of contract and sending them home is definitely an option."
Outside of the Games period, athletes were free to say what they liked, providing they weren't bringing their sport or New Zealand into disrepute.
Inside the Games period of July 25 to September 7, the athletes agreement clause stating that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas" would be strictly enforced.
The agreement sets out a process for an alleged breach to be considered. During the Games, such breaches are to be handled within 24 hours, with the chef de mission hearing evidence about what had occurred and giving the athlete time to respond.
Apart from expulsion from the team, possible penalties include a fine or reprimand.
An athlete who protested in a very public forum such as the dais would likely have the IOC to answer to as well, since the Olympic charter allows for the IOC executive board to deal with breaches too.
Maister said there were very clear reasons why such rules had to be in place.
"If you don't have that rule there every Olympic ceremony could be a real stage for anything in the world that anyone wants to do. You don't foul in that nest because that's not the time." Ceremonies would become "a circus" for political causes.
"At the same time we're saying that athletes have got views and opinions like anyone else and that outside of those particular enclaves they are entitled to express them and they won't have issue with us and won't be in breach if they do so."
