Tibet protest kits offered to Aussie athletes

15/07/2008 1:13:00 PM. | by Dominic Brock livenews.com.au


Australia’s Olympic athletes are being offered a Tibet protest kit to wear in Beijing, including badges, stickers, temporary tattoos and a T-shirt bearing the words “I support human rights” in English and Chinese.

The Australia Tibet Council will offer the kits to athletes bound for Beijing, with the packs designed to avoid Olympic bans on controversial political statements by making no explicit reference to China’s record in Tibet.

Campaign co-ordinator Simon Bradshaw told Reuters the Council had wanted to take action since Chinese authorities suppressed massive demonstrations in Tibet in March.

"Going right back to March, people have been approaching us and asking how they can help Tibet in Beijing," Bradshaw said.

But he also warned that China could confiscate the kits, and could take action against athletes who join the protest.

“[There is] no doubt that athletes who choose to make public statements over Tibet may face consequences,” he said.

Mike Tancred from the Australian Olympic Committee has recommended athletes do not take the kit to China in order to avoid antagonising other competitors.