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A gag placed on athletes who will represent New Zealand at the Beijing Olympics is set to be loosened after concerns that it encroached on freedom of speech rights.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee yesterday decided to recommend that an agreement all athletes will sign before they go to the games be amended to bring it into line with the Olympic Charter.
The committee had been under pressure to make a change to its original agreement after accusations it restricted athletes from speaking out on issues such as China's record on human rights at this year's Olympics.
In fact, the original clause which barred athletes from making statements was not aimed specifically at China's Olympics - it had been in place for at least eight years and covered prior Olympic events in Athens and Sydney.
But it shot to prominence because of the prospect that it would restrict athletes from talking about Chinese issues, and yesterday Minister for Sport Clayton Cosgrove revealed there had been a change of heart within the NZOC.
Mr Cosgrove said he had expressed "reservations" about the original athlete's agreement to the NZOC, and was yesterday advised that the NZOC's board would recommend to the Athletes Commission that the agreement be changed.
"The board will recommend that that clause be consistent, like other nations, with the Olympic Charter," Mr Cosgrove said.
The NZOC confirmed its change but said it was subject to the Athletes Commission agreeing to the amendment.
"We will meet with the representatives of the Athletes Commission this week and provide further information as quickly as possible," the NZOC board said.
Greens MP Keith Locke described the move as a u-turn and said while there would still be some restrictions on athletes they were significantly less than those that had been in place.
"You couldn't carry a placard at the Opening Ceremony saying Free Tibet when the New Zealand team is marching around the stadium, but the same athlete could send out a press statement that very day saying the same thing," Mr Locke said.
"I think it's what we basically have to accept in terms of what the International Olympic Committee has decided."
However, Mr Locke said he now wanted a change to another part of the athlete agreement which banned representatives from writing internet blogs during the Olympics.
"Australian athletes in Beijing will be free to write blogs, and there is no good reason why New Zealand athletes should not enjoy the same freedom," he said.
Former Olympian Dick Quax, who won a silver medal in the 5000m at the 1976 Olympics, said he was pleased to see the change was likely to happen.
"Anything that is less draconian than the current clause that's in the contract would be pleasing," he said.
"It's very much a watered down version."
WHAT THE CURRENTAGREEMENT SAYS
Athletes will not make statements or demonstrations (whether verbally, in writing or by any act or omission) regarding political, religious or racial matters, as such matters are contrary to the objects and purposes of the NZOC.
WHAT THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD SAY
No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.
