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China's New Olympic Rules

FRIDAY JUNE 6 2008 9:00 PM

Submitted by Coyotemike. Edited By FearTheReaper.

TAGS: China, Olympics, human rights

Ahh, the Olympics: the traditions; the majesty; the competitive spirit; the graceful athleticism and the...the political restrictions?

That's right. China, not satisfied with infringing on their own citizens' rights to protest against the government, or cracking down on claims of independence of different areas, now they have released a list of rules for foreign visitors coming for the Games. These include:

No printed material that is critical of China

No rallies or demonstrations

Olympic Tickets do not necessarily mean an entry visa will be issued

No smuggling in Opium

(since there's no history of opium in China)

Do not insult the Chinese flag or other national Chinese symbols

No religious or political banners

Some of these make sense, like the rules of what to do if you get food poisoning, and I'm sure that plenty of host countries have refused entry visas to some people who had Olympic tickets. But some of these count as suppression of what are considered basic human rights.

�A person�s ability to express his or her opinion is a basic human right and as such does not need to have a specific clause in the Olympic Charter because its place is implicit,� said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, at a meeting in Beijing in April.

It should be noted that Olympic rules have, for over 50 years, included a ban on political, religious, and racial propaganda on Olympic sites, but that is more about suspending political differences and descriminations than China's version:

The advisory issued by the Beijing Organizing Committee includes a ban on bringing into China �anything detrimental to China�s politics, economy, culture or moral standards, including printed material, film negatives, photos, records, movies, tape recordings, videotapes, optical discs and other items.�

China was supposed to, as part of their winning bid in 2001, improve their human rights records.

We're still waiting.

56 Comments

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SockPuppet

I'm lost

July 2006

JUN 10, 2008 02:06 PM

IDGAS said:

SockPuppet said:

IDGAS said:
Ah, China the land of low cost manufacturing, the forgotten rural masses, and a huge income disparity.

I forget where I heard it, but I'm certain that somewhere I heard that China has brought 200 million people out of poverty in the last 20 years. Any idea where that number might have come from?

The current population from the CIA factbook is 1,330,044,605 (July 2008 est.) so even if the lifted 200mm and lets give them the other 100,044,605 as also not being in poverty then they still have 1 billion poor people.

China over the last several years has had major and violent protests in rural area. The causes are corruption, substandard health care, and other related issues.

So, no idea? Does the CIA factbook give any numbers about Chinese poverty levels?

scylis

Seattle, WA

November 2004

JUN 10, 2008 02:37 PM

SockPuppet said:

IDGAS said:

SockPuppet said:

IDGAS said:
Ah, China the land of low cost manufacturing, the forgotten rural masses, and a huge income disparity.

I forget where I heard it, but I'm certain that somewhere I heard that China has brought 200 million people out of poverty in the last 20 years. Any idea where that number might have come from?

So, no idea? Does the CIA factbook give any numbers about Chinese poverty levels?

Glorious Nation China's People's Administration's Fact Department of Fact Making?

Colinism

Atlanta, GA

July 2005

JUN 10, 2008 02:50 PM

http://english.gov.cn/2008-04/13/content_943607.htm
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~koyam20m/Urbanruraldivide.html

scylis

Seattle, WA

November 2004

JUN 10, 2008 02:54 PM

scylis said:
Glorious Nation China's People's Administration's Fact Department of Fact Making?

Colinism said:
http://english.gov.cn/2008-04/13/content_943607.htm

yep.