Top Russian Official Overrules IOC President: Athletes Banned From Protesting
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.”
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/top-russian-official-overrules-ioc-president-athletes-banned-from-protesting/news/2014/01/29/82502
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This will not end well. For Russia.