Beijing Winter Olympics: Chinese Authorities Warns Foreign Athletes Of Punishment If Any Speech Violates Olympic 'Spirit' or Local Law

Chinese officials have warned foreign athletes that they could potentially face punishment if they use speech that is “against the Olympic spirit” or local laws.

“Any behavior or speech that is against the Olympic spirit, especially against Chinese laws and regulations, are also subject to certain punishment,” said Yang Shu, deputy director general of international relations for the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOC).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) charter prohibits any kind of “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.

On Tuesday night, a forum hosted by Human Rights Watch warned athletes about conducting any activism, including making statements, while in Beijing for the Games, and to be wary of the extraordinary reach of Chinese surveillance.

“Chinese laws are very vague on the crimes that can be used to prosecute people’s free speech,” she said. “People can be charged with picking quarrels or provoking trouble. There are all kinds of crimes that can be levelled at peaceful, critical comments. And in China the conviction rate is 99%.” Dr Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said.

In a related development. Citizen Lab, a Canadian cybersecurity group, raised serious concerns over health-tracking smartphone app that Olympic attendees must download. The lab established security flaws in the app, including a list of political keywords and a feature to report “politically sensitive content.”

Germany, Australia, UK and US have urged their athletes and National Olympic Committees to leave their personal phones and laptops behind and to travel with special devices over fears of digital espionage.