'No talking ban' for UK Olympians?

[SplashNblub]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7237599.stm
AT least it's Section 51 rather than Area 51. Mentioning the unmentionable. Will be some nice pep talks nearer the time I hear.

[SplashNblub]

Not much talking allowed in Tibet either.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7299132.stm
The Chinese just can't help themselves.

[selkie]

And across the channel, Peter VDH is already slamming the Chinese for human rights problems. So I'm not sure what the point is in trying to gag British athletes.

[Linny]

And whilst this (http://www.swimnews.com/News/displayStory.jhtml?action=get&id=5930) is action taken by LEN rather than the IOC, it just goes to show that NGBs are right to restrict what athletes say or do politically whilst in the public eye representing their country because it looks like if they don't someone else will - and how!

There can't be a bigger deterrent than seeing this type of punishment being dished out but boy does it seem so wrong.

And where does it end? I shall certainly expect to see no Scottish, Irish or Welsh flags on poolside from atletes representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland because this type of Nationalistic pride might cause an upset to my sensitive English soul.

[Wildswimmer]

This repression of free speech proves that Britain itself has started down the road to totalitarianism. The best way to make an example of the Chinese is to simply boycot the Beijing Olympics - as we did the Moscow Games back in 1980 after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Linny]

The best way to make an example of the Chinese is to simply boycot the Beijing Olympics - as we did the Moscow Games back in 1980 after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.No we didn't.

[Wildswimmer]

No we didn't.

Quite a few Brits did. Many other athletes competed but not under their country's flag.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Linny]

All I'm saying is that if there's a risk that the IOC are going to take the same hard line as LEN on public political statement by athletes (whether or not you believe their action is right)thenit is right for British Swimming to protect their/our investment by asking athletes to agree to certain conditions if they are going to be competing for GB in Beijing.

[Sepia]

This repression of free speech proves that Britain itself has started down the road to totalitarianism. The best way to make an example of the Chinese is to simply boycot the Beijing Olympics - as we did the Moscow Games back in 1980 after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Wildswimmer Pete

we was ther at moscow mate I think you getting mixed up with the yanks oir somthing.
I no we were cos a mate of mines mum was in it she rekons it was the newspapers stiring it up. most of the athlete couldnt give a toss just wanted to compete. don’t know what totterlarianism is but if you think we starteed it nearly30 years ago it aint new is it. anyway why should the athletes suffer just dont but any more cheep chink gear. that not gonna happen is it LOL.

[Wildswimmer]

don’t know what totterlarianism is but if you think we starteed it nearly30 years ago it aint new is it.

From dictionary.com:

to·tal·i·tar·i·an·ism n Pronunciation[toh-tal-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm]
–noun
1. the practices and principles of a totalitarian regime.
2. absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution.
3. the character or quality of an autocratic or authoritarian individual, group, or government: the totalitarianism of the father.

From Wikipedia:

"Totalitarianism is a concept used in political science that describes a state that regulates nearly every aspect of public and private behavior. Totalitarian regimes or movements maintain themselves in political power by means of secret police, propaganda disseminated through the state-controlled mass media, personality cults, <b><u>regulation and restriction of free discussion and criticism,</u></b> single-party states, the use of mass surveillance, and widespread use of terror tactics."

Just about sums up China. And what the UK is on the way to becoming.

Edit: "the use of mass surveillance". The UK has the heaviest concentration of CCTV cameras in the world - one for every fourteen of its citizens.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Woodward]

The best way to make an example of the Chinese is to simply boycot the Beijing Olympics - as we did the Moscow Games back in 1980 after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.


How did that work out?

If that is done the country in question will just become more entrenched in their actions. That's what happened in the case of the Soviet Union. Of course, it also resulted in a retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Olympic Games.

There is absolutely no conceivable way that the UK government would even dream of a boycott 4 years out from hosting their own games. The likely result would be China and Russia boycotting 2012. History has taught that boycotts, embargoes, and other forms of hostile political leverage usually don't work.

Rather, a better idea would be to have international television networks embarrass the Chinese with reports of abuses during the Olympic Games while the athletes keep their mouths shut. Just have the networks not at risk from having their press credentials revoked beat those stories like a drum. But the reality is using the Olympics as a platform to change China will not work.

Today, if PvdH elected to boycott the Olympics some might suspect other motivations played a part too ... given his recent form and daunting competition. ;)

[Linny]

Rather, a better idea would be to have international television networks embarrass the Chinese with reports of abuses during the Olympic Games while the athletes keep their mouths shut. Although none of this politically embarassing coverage could be shown prime time for you of course because that will be full of sports coverage. ;)

[SplashNblub]

This repression of free speech proves that Britain itself has started down the road to totalitarianism. The best way to make an example of the Chinese is to simply boycot the Beijing Olympics - as we did the Moscow Games back in 1980 after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Wildswimmer Pete
Pete, we are nearer the end of the road rather than the start. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/05/olympic_biometric_screening_plan/
What is the point? Are we that afraid? Apart from anything else they are closing dozens of swimming pools over the country as they fall into disrepair and spending a fortune on one that will only be fully used for a fortnight. The logistics of clubs training there after the fuss is over with public transport access only does not bear thinking about.

I don't agree with a boycott though. The only way to begin change is through interaction not isolation. Go out there and talk to them - certainly it is bad manners to criticize your host country, but when people are being bumped off during the Games, and they will be because it is the Tibetans and others big chance to be noticed, treating athletes like children and expecting them to behave like the three wise monkeys ("see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil") is a disgrace. More importantly the :beer: is bloody cheap at about 15p a go so it's worth a visit. Talking of a visit they have only just realized that the oriental style squatting toilet does not have a great appeal for Westerners so their plumbers are desperately replumbing. Unless you have been there you can have no idea how alien it is with endless opportunities for phatic miscommunications.

[Woodward]

Although none of this politically embarassing coverage could be shown prime time for you of course because that will be full of sports coverage. ;)
Money talks. :)

Which is another reason it's tough to take China to task. There's too much economic risk in getting too tough with the Chinese.

[lane4]

The logistics of clubs training there after the fuss is over with public transport access only does not bear thinking about.And that will apparently be about 18 months after the fuss is over. Yes, it is going to take 18 months to change the pool from Olympic to Legacy mode. So all you London clubs, sometime in the Spring of 2014 is when you can start planning to train there as it will be closed until then.

[SplashNblub]

And that will apparently be about 18 months after the fuss is over. Yes, it is going to take 18 months to change the pool from Olympic to Legacy mode. So all you London clubs, sometime in the Spring of 2014 is when you can start planning to train there as it will be closed until then.
I am a bit worried that we are sometimes agreeing about things these days.:confused:

[Linny]

I am a bit worried that we are sometimes agreeing about things these days.:confused:I don't think lane4's changed at all. :king: :p :love:

[chris_lamb]

Yes, it is going to take 18 months to change the pool from Olympic to Legacy mode.

So does that indicate slow work or just the amount of work involved? Much better to put the time and effort into getting the pool that is required rather than rushing it and ending up with a pool that closes two years later because no one can afford to run it!

[Verity]

This repression of free speech proves that Britain itself has started down the road to totalitarianism. The best way to make an example of the Chinese is to simply boycot the Beijing Olympics - as we did the Moscow Games back in 1980 after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Wildswimmer Pete

I reckon we're all ready there mate, we are the most monitored snooped upon society ever, I despair.

V

[SplashNblub]

'The modern torch relay was introduced by Carl Diem, president of the Organization Committee for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, as part of an effort to turn the games into a glorification of the Third Reich.'

I have heard there may be more than a few problems today - but no doubt our totalitarian state will deal effectively - including having Chinese speakers on hand to decide if any banners in Chinese should be removed asap because of objectionable content.