Olympic luge champion Natalie Geisenberger believes the reluctance of athletes to make statements about human rights in China is justified.
“You have to be careful when, where and what you say,” said the 34-year-old from Miesbach.
Before the start of the Winter Games in Beijing, she had severely criticized organizational deficiencies and abuses in the pre-Olympic test competitions. “I’m curious to see if there will be anything else after the return. Here it’s better if you don’t say too much.”
Before the Beijing Games, there was a debate about how Olympic athletes can and should exercise their right to freedom of expression in China.
Topics such as the restrictions on freedom of expression and human rights in Hong Kong and Tibet or the fate of the Muslim Uyghur minority were discussed.