IOC briefs teams on Beijing political protests

By Karolos Grohmann

LONDON (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told National Olympic Committees their athletes should refrain from making political statements during the Beijing Games.

As fears of protests against China's human rights record following a military crackdown in Tibet mount, television coverage will also do more to protect the Games from any unexpected protest by fans, athletes or officials.

Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB), a joint venture between the Games organisers and the IOC's Olympic Broadcasting Services, is responsible for producing the images from all Olympic-related venues and feeding them to broadcast rights holders.

"The Olympic broadcaster must protect the Olympics and we are being told that at every Games," a cameraman who has covered several recent Olympics for the host broadcasters told Reuters on condition of anonymity on Monday.

"There is no way a protest will be shown live from Beijing wherever the BOB is in charge," the man said.

In a memo sent earlier this month to all NOCs, the IOC said athletes should adhere to Rule 51.3 of the Olympic charter, which essentially says politics must stay out of the Games.

"The Games are about sport. They are not a stage for different kinds of political statements," the IOC said in the note to NOCs.

"The conduct of participants at all (Olympic) sites, areas and venues includes all actions, reactions, attitudes or manifestations of any kind by a person or group of persons, including but not limited to their look, external appearance, clothing, gestures, and written or oral statements," the IOC said.