TEAM DARFUR ASKS IOC TO CLARIFY RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION AT OLYMPICS:

International coalition of athletes asks International Olympic Committee President to clarify boundaries of athletes' freedom of speech and expression at Beijing Olympics.

Lawyers representing Team Darfur, have today written to the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, on behalf of their client, seeking confirmation that the IOC will ensure that athletes at the 2008 Olympics will have the right to express their concerns about grave human rights abuses in line with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter and the international right to Freedom of Expression.

Read the letter to the International Olympic Committee. [1]

Olympic Gold medalist and Team Darfur co-founder, Joey Cheek said:
"Team Darfur hopes to receive confirmation from the International Olympic Committee that athletes will not be punished for drawing attention to what has been called the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the 5 year long conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The athletes who make up Team Darfur have great respect for the Olympic movement and the Olympic ideals, and hope to use their voices as elite athletes to be leaders in creating positive change for the people of Darfur. The nations of the world, including the host of the Olympics, China, have let the innocent civilians of Darfur down by not ensuring the rapid deployment of a United Nations protection force. China has special role to play in ending the crisis because of its close ties to Sudan, and as host of the Olympics has a responsibility to live up to the Olympic values."

The Olympic Games champion respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. The Olympic Charter states, "The goal of Olympism is to place all sport at the service of the harmonious development of man with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity."

The letter responds to M Rogge's address to the 205 National Olympic Committees in Beijing last Thursday, 10 April 2008 in which he said that the principle of Freedom of Expression is "implicit" in the Olympic Charter. Given that IOC rule 51(3) states that no demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted within an Olympic Zone, Team Darfur seeks clarification on what constitutes demonstrations and propaganda, and what is permitted for athletes to do to express their moral conviction that the killings in Darfur must be stopped.

In his address on Thursday, M Rogge said in relation to Rule 51(3): "They [the athletes] will know what they can say or not say. If they have any doubts, the IOC and the NOCs are here to guide them."

In writing to the IOC, Team Darfur has accepted M Rogge's offer of guidance on what athletes can and cannot say in Beijing. It also seeks confirmation that the IOC will fulfill its commitment to the principles of Olympism and ensure that athletes are able to succeed for their countries and for the betterment of all mankind.

Notes to Editor:

Team Darfur is an international coalition of more than 280 athletes from 51 countries committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. A campaign leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Team Darfur aims to educate the global public through the unique voice of elite athletes. It brings together the world's Olympic and professional athletes to put international pressure not only on Sudan, but also on those countries that support the policy of inaction in the face of this dire humanitarian crisis. www.teamdarfur.org [2]

Since 2003 the government of Sudan has, in concert with Janjaweed militia, orchestrated a violent counter-insurgency campaign in Darfur, targeting mostly civilians. As a result it is estimated that 400,000 people have been killed, 2.5 million people have been forced from their homes, over 200,000 people are living as refugees in neighbouring Chad and over 1 million people remain at risk of attack by the Janjaweed and Sudanese army. China is the principal funder and supplier of Sudan's military and continues to supply Sudan with weapons and weapons technology.