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The New Zealand Olympic Committee has been named by a Taiwanese newspaper as one of three countries, including Britain and Belgium, attempting to stop athletes from commenting on political and human rights issues at this year's games in China.
The Chinese-language Liberty Times reported that "New Zealand and Belgium had banned their players from making political comments on China while participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."
NZOC communications manager Ashley Abbott said the report was misleading and that a clause in an agreement covering athletes was a standard one for all previous Olympic Games.
A clause in the New Zealand agreement required Olympic participants to not make statements, demonstrate (whether verbally, 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".
Ms Abbott said the clause was "a general athlete agreement in place designed to protect the athletes, the NZOC and the Olympic Games. We do not ban athletes from speaking, athletes agree to reasonable limitations on what they can and can't say that could have a negative effect on the NZOC, the IOC or the Olympics".
However, Amnesty International spokeswoman Margaret Taylor said it was "disappointing" that NZOC had the clause in the agreement and called on the committee to remove it in the spirit of the Olympic Games. "It is disappointing that they [NZOC] cannot take the lead in matters involving basic freedom and human rights," Ms Taylor said. "New Zealand athletes should be treated as individuals who can think and decide for themselves what they say about the human rights record of China."
The British Olympic Association (BOA) too had requested its athletes "not to comment on any politically sensitive issues", but has since backed down amid outrage in Britain.
The Mail on Sunday reported that the BOA warned athletes who refused to sign the agreement they would not be allowed to travel and those who spoke out during the games would be sent home.
But amid strong protest, BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said the association would look again at the wording after British-based rights groups Amnesty International and Liberty accused it of trying to gag free speech and accusations from a former lawmaker of "appeasement".
Like Britain and many other countries, New Zealand is keen to maintain good relations with China because of its booming economy. But some of the ways on how it does that has been the subject of criticism.
Last week, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia slammed organisers of the Wellington Chinese New Year Festival for banning Chinese spiritual movement Falun Gong from its celebrations.
"The economic relationship with China appears to be determining the ways in which various communities can participate in this land," she said.
