Bach said about the rules of the I.O.Cbanning athletes from expressing political opinions during competitions and awards ceremonies: “When an actor plays Hamlet in a theatre, no one asks whether he can express political opinions during the play.”
Biathlon Olympic champion and sports show expert Arnd Peiffer then criticized Bach. Bach do himself “to be an accomplice to a system that does not respect human rights”, said the 34-year-old in the NDR interview: “I’m thinking of the Uyghurs, Hong Kong and the lack of freedom of expression. People who express themselves freely or activists are silenced. And there are also people who disappear. Thomas Bach always argues that the Olympic Games are apolitical. In my view, that is eyewash.” Rather, China and its system can now play in the games “Emphasize your own strength. The athletes only play an extra role.”
criticism of the IOC
The Global Athlete alliance of athletes had previously sharply criticized the IOC and expressed understanding for the silence of active people. China has proved “that it does not protect freedom of expression”, said Global Athlete General Director Rob Koehler of the “FAZ”: “Why would an athlete speak out when they have little to no protection? Would you recommend your child to fight for freedom of speech in China? I don’t think so.”
DOSBPresident Thomas Weikert, on the other hand, said that as an Olympic participant he would be critical of the human rights violations in the host country China. “If I were an athlete in Beijing, I wouldn’t be afraid to speak my mind in an interview”, Weikert said on “Spox”: “I fly to China with respect for the situation, I would say that. But as an athlete at the Olympic Games, I would always concentrate on the sport first – that also applies if the Games were in France.”