Didn't the English FA order its players to give the fascist salute to the Italian or German national anthem before a soccer match in the 30s?
I know the freedom of speech will be bring up. But what athletes represent? Do they represent their country? If the answer is yes, then they have to stick with their "official" position on foreign policy. Just like a diplomat who has no right of "free speech". But if the athletes are representing themselves, then it is a different story. They can say whatever they want. Just like if you play in Wimberdon or US Open, you don't see the national flags raised, etc.
Oh well, at least two countries, that the article mentions, are willing to allow their athletes to say what's on their minds.
Britain is at the thin edge of blow-off on their economy, and PM Brown wants China's huge fund of $200B to base on London. It is not a time to piss your life-saver off. Australia, meanwhile, has a very health relation with China, and China enjoys big popularity in there. So their athletes are pretty free to express their loves of China.
Ah, so if they have good things to say, allowing them free speech is fine, but if their opinion is a bit more negative........... Free speech, China style!!
The Aussies are building up a very strong navy for a country their size. It's not being built to deal with Papua New Guinea or the Phillipines.
Aussie PM Rudd said that Australia will be the first Western country who is REALLY understand China and a TRUE friend of China. He also said that Australia will become a mediator to communicate between China and West. Asian NATO dream is dead with Howard.
That's what's known lip service. Besides there is no need for an Asian NATO, there isn't any threat there the US can't handle alone.
We have to wait to see. Meanwhile, Spielberg started the attack on Olympics. If he can use his influence to stop War on Iraq, and also work a peace over somewhere in Mid East. then more power to him.
What are you talking about now? I hope the British athletes speak the truth when they are over there, too bad if fragile china can't handle the truth.
You mean the "truth" from your war-mongering machine? If China (and all her friends) feels this is just a coordinate effort by British government in the name of NCOs, they can simply kick those guys out of Olympics by sticking with rules of IOC. Then forget about London Olympics.
Which war mongering machine is that? The US could easily have blocked china's hosting of the games for all their human rights violations, inadequte infrastructure, their illegal occupation of multiple nations subjacating innocents there, and their threats towards the peaceful people of Taiwan who deserve their recognition as an indepentant nation. I am sure you will try to get the last word on this too right?
How? IOC is not a branch of US government. What US counts in IOC is just a single vote. China won the election by 56 votes--that means 56 countries from the world voted Beijing. The next one is Toronto of Canada for 20 votes. Guess where the US vote goes?
He never said it was a branch of the US government. Nor has anyone else even brought that up but you. In the US the NOC is clearly separated from the national government. Perhaps your sensitivity is because this is not so in the PRC, where the Olympic apparatus is seen as just one more propaganda outlet for a corrupt government. And Toronto had 22 votes in the deciding round, despite widespread allegations of fraud (Sadly, not the first time in the site city selection process).
I am just responding to his assertion that US can easily decide which country can host the Olympics. IOC is similar like FIFA that every country can vote.
You're the one who claimed that London would lose the 2012 games if there athletes speak the truth and not lies about china.
I didn't say that London would lose the 2012 games. Please go back to read my post. What I said is that if British Government is not doing what they should do, they will get retaliation of boycott for their 2012 game.
Why are you lying? that isn't what you said at all. This is an exact quote of your post: Nothing about any boycott there. You said forget about London Olympics. Keep your propaganda for those who want others to think for them.