- 注册
- 2004-07-18
- 消息
- 46,816
- 荣誉分数
- 20,798
- 声望点数
- 1,393
Olympic president says media being manipulated by protesters
Olympic president says media being manipulated by protesters
Jeff Lee, Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, April 11, 2008
BEIJING - A day after being slapped down by China's Foreign Ministry for reminding it of it's "moral engagement" on improving human rights, IOC president Jacques Rogge refused to be drawn into political commentary Friday at the close of the IOC's executive board meetings.
Speaking to a packed audience of more than 200 journalists, with many more listening in by telephone, Rogge repeatedly deflected questions about whether he was concerned about human rights issues in China and a growing potential for a political boycott of the opening ceremonies.
Instead, he said he viewed the violent protests during the Beijing torch relay not as an attack on the Olympic flame but as a manipulation of the media.
"What is being attacked is not the symbol of peace. What is being utilized is the great media attention that the torch brings," he said.
"It is not the symbolism of uniting the people of the world that is attacked, it is the fact that protesters know there are many media and that their complaints will be heard all over the world."
He also said the Olympic torch will go to Tibet as planned.
The wrap-up conference came at the end of a tense week that featured violent anti-China protests in London and Paris during the torch relay, a hide-and-seek chase through San Francisco, and Rogge's observations that the Olympics was in "a crisis" that had left athletes in "disarray" and that they needed assurances "not to lose faith in the Olympic movement."
It also came hours before the torch was to be paraded over a shortened course in Buenos Aires under tight security.
On Wednesday, Rogge met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, but he would not discuss what was said other than it was a "frank and open and candid talk."
Rogge also refused to comment on whether he thinks China should
open dialogue with Tibet.
"Your question is a political matter into which the IOC cannot enter. This is a sovereign matter for China to decide," he said.
It was a different tone he took a day earlier when he said China had made a moral promise in 2001 to improve its human rights record and that he called upon them to do that.
His comments brought a swift rebuke from the Foreign Ministry, which said the IOC should stick to the Olympic charter and not introduce "any irrelevant political factors.
When asked how he felt, he said he did not want to comment on "declarations of the foreign ministry."
Rogge said it also wasn't up to the IOC to comment on politicians that choose not to attend the opening Games. But he said it is clear that there is no public appetite for a general boycott because the public views athletes as the victims.
If politicians opt to stay away from the Games, athletes will be hurt, he said.
Rogge added the media law that China signed last year will protect athletes should they choose to make provocative statements outside Olympic venues. But he said the athletes also must respect Chinese law.
"If there are interviews with media and they express criticism on some things, that will lead to no consequence."
Vancouver Sun
jeffleepng.canwest.com
Olympic president says media being manipulated by protesters
Jeff Lee, Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, April 11, 2008
BEIJING - A day after being slapped down by China's Foreign Ministry for reminding it of it's "moral engagement" on improving human rights, IOC president Jacques Rogge refused to be drawn into political commentary Friday at the close of the IOC's executive board meetings.
Speaking to a packed audience of more than 200 journalists, with many more listening in by telephone, Rogge repeatedly deflected questions about whether he was concerned about human rights issues in China and a growing potential for a political boycott of the opening ceremonies.
Instead, he said he viewed the violent protests during the Beijing torch relay not as an attack on the Olympic flame but as a manipulation of the media.
"What is being attacked is not the symbol of peace. What is being utilized is the great media attention that the torch brings," he said.
"It is not the symbolism of uniting the people of the world that is attacked, it is the fact that protesters know there are many media and that their complaints will be heard all over the world."
He also said the Olympic torch will go to Tibet as planned.
The wrap-up conference came at the end of a tense week that featured violent anti-China protests in London and Paris during the torch relay, a hide-and-seek chase through San Francisco, and Rogge's observations that the Olympics was in "a crisis" that had left athletes in "disarray" and that they needed assurances "not to lose faith in the Olympic movement."
It also came hours before the torch was to be paraded over a shortened course in Buenos Aires under tight security.
On Wednesday, Rogge met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, but he would not discuss what was said other than it was a "frank and open and candid talk."
Rogge also refused to comment on whether he thinks China should
open dialogue with Tibet.
"Your question is a political matter into which the IOC cannot enter. This is a sovereign matter for China to decide," he said.
It was a different tone he took a day earlier when he said China had made a moral promise in 2001 to improve its human rights record and that he called upon them to do that.
His comments brought a swift rebuke from the Foreign Ministry, which said the IOC should stick to the Olympic charter and not introduce "any irrelevant political factors.
When asked how he felt, he said he did not want to comment on "declarations of the foreign ministry."
Rogge said it also wasn't up to the IOC to comment on politicians that choose not to attend the opening Games. But he said it is clear that there is no public appetite for a general boycott because the public views athletes as the victims.
If politicians opt to stay away from the Games, athletes will be hurt, he said.
Rogge added the media law that China signed last year will protect athletes should they choose to make provocative statements outside Olympic venues. But he said the athletes also must respect Chinese law.
"If there are interviews with media and they express criticism on some things, that will lead to no consequence."
Vancouver Sun
jeffleepng.canwest.com
