The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) has overturned its gag order on national athletes in Beijing this year following intervention from the government.
Minister for Sport and Recreation Clayton Cosgrove said in parliament today that the NZOC will amend the clause that currently disallows athletes from giving a political opinion while at Olympic venues. The clause is to be consistent with the Olympic Charter.
Green Party Sports spokesperson Keith Locke said he was glad the ban has ended.
"There was a huge groundswell of Kiwi opinion to let our athletes speak, and I am glad the Olympic Committee and the Government have taken it on board." Ashley Abbott, Communications Manager NZOC said on Monday, "It is not the intention of the NZOC to restrict what athletes can express in Beijing more so than during other Olympic games."
The decision comes a week after the same issue saw the British Olympic Committee back down.
However, New Zealand athletes are still forbidden to write blogs while at the games, said Mr Locke.
"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."
Mr Locke said a major reason the Olympics were awarded to Beijing was to spotlight the human rights situation, "and thus help advance the principles of freedom so central to the Olympic movement".
"By trying to muzzle our athletes, the New Zealand Olympic Committee was letting down those around the world who are trying to use the Olympics to help improve China's human rights," he said.
UnitedFuture leader Hon Peter Dunne said the New Zealand government and sporting bodies have a double standard.
"Why it is that successive New Zealand Governments and sporting bodies have been very keen to speak out when they have seen situations in other countries that they do not approve of, but have been remarkably loathe over the years to speak out about similar situations in China...?"
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