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Mao badges worn by Chinese athletes may breach the Olympic Charter

Posted by on 2021/08/04. Filed under Breaking News,Headline News,International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


On August 2, CCTV sports broadcasters were beaming with emotion at the medal ceremony of the women’s Olympic cycling team race, won by Chinese athletes Zhong Angelan, 30, and Bao Shanju, 23.

The two, dressed in the white uniforms of the Chinese delegation, stepped onto the podium.On the left side of the jacket is the Chinese flag, with the Olympic rings on the bottom.But the outside world soon noticed that they were also wearing a round Mao Zedong pin badge with a red gold background pinned to their chests.The badge drew cheers from China’s left-wing Internet users, but was also questioned as to whether it breach the Olympic Charter’s ban on political regulation.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said in a terse response August 3 at the Tokyo Games’ daily news conference that an investigation has been launched into the incident.”We contacted the Chinese Olympic Committee yesterday and asked them to provide a report on the situation.”

Article 50 of the Olympic Charter states that “no demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda of any kind shall take place in any Olympic venues or other areas.”

The rules further state that any form of publicity should not appear on sportswear, accessories or equipment. Any breach of the rules may result in disqualification of the participants or delegations, and the suspension of their passes.

The international community has long debated whether political expression should be allowed on the sports field. One believes it is the right of athletes to exercise their freedom of speech; The other is against turning sports into a political battlefield. Ahead of the Tokyo Games, the Associated Press reports, the Olympic Committee slightly eased rules that prohibit protests at Olympic venues. The U.S. Olympic Committee announced last year that it would no longer punish American athletes for political statements.

After the controversy over MAO’s badge spread, Internet users found that CCTV’s rebroadcast video had blocked MAO’s badge. A popular trending topic on Sina Weibo was “Bao Shanju Zhong wore chairman MAO’s badge when presenting an award.” Observer, an official Chinese website, deleted the posts.

This, in turn, has prompted some Chinese netizens on Weibo to complain.”What is CCTV afraid of?” People’s Middle Road walk nine times,” wrote one user.”Long live Chairman MAO! Refuse to fight!” Net name “Tianya drunk” netizen wrote.” Without Chairman MAO, there would be no New China.”

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