Beijing 2008: Bringing Team Tibet to the 2008 Games

“Olympism is a state of mind based on equality of sports which are international and democratic.

It is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind.

The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination or any kind, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
The International Olympic Committee

“Official statements suggest that the Olympics are being used to justify such repression in the name of ‘harmony’ or ‘social stability’ rather than acting as a catalyst for reform. Global experience shows that the best way to ensure social stability is to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights based on the rule of law.”
Amnesty International, August 2007

In 2001 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded China the 2008 Olympic Games, saying that the award of the Games would be a “force for good” in promoting human rights in China. Today, with less than a year until the Olympic Games, there are still many concerns about China’s ongoing repression of people within its borders. In Tibetan areas, Tibetans are still unable to voice their opinions and are routinely imprisoned for speaking out in support of the Dalai Lama. On the 1st of August 2007, Ronggay A'drak, a Tibetan nomad, was arrested in Lithang (Litang) County in Sichuan Province for shouting, “The Dalai Lama should return to Tibet", "Release Panchen Lama" and "Tibet wants Independence" at a local festival. Continuing pressure on the organisers of the Beijing Olympics is now one of the best ways of attempting reform human rights conditions within the People’s Republic of China.

In order to prove that China is willing to address these issues, Tibetans and Tibet Supporters across the world have been taking part in the ongoing ‘Bring Tibet to the Olympics’ campaign. Already protests have taken place by Students for a Free Tibet activists on Mount Everest and on the Great Wall of China as part of their ‘One World, One Dream, Free Tibet’ campaign. Outside China, the National Olympic Committee of Tibet has been established, with the goal of sending ‘Team Tibet’ to the Beijing Games. The IOC believes that sport can be a powerful way of joining people from different cultures and societies together so rather than boycotting the Games, Team Tibet wants to celebrate alongside China and all the other nations taking part to prove that cooperation between nations can happen and be a real ‘force for good’.

“We are extremely proud to have a group of young Tibetan athletes eager to participate in next year’s games, hence our decision to form a National Olympic Committee”
 Wangpo Tethong, President of the NOC Tibet established on July 30, 2007

Exactly one year before the Beijing Olympics, the 8th of August 2007 saw a worldwide day of action for Tibet, marked by events in Delhi, New York, Oslo, Sydney and Lausanne. In the UK events included the launching of Team Tibet with a warm up by the athletes in Trafalgar Square. Tibetan Olympic torches were lit to symbolise the desire of these Tibetan athletes to compete for their nation in Beijing.

Team Tibet is now seeking our support. Anyone can become an honorary supporter and show their commitment to changing the current situation in China. In addition, Team Tibet is looking for competitors at the games to join them in solidarity and to show their disapproval for the current regime’s record on human rights by wearing a Team Tibet T-Shirt or writing to the IOC.

The next year promises to be a real time to push for change in Tibet and China. The Chinese Government wants the 2008 Games to pass without comment on its poor record on human rights. The 2012 London Games have to take up the baton where Beijing finishes. Do we want to be tainted by the legacy of China’s Games? It is up to us to continue highlighting these issues at this important time by raising awareness and educating others about the situation. Let’s make the most of the opportunity!

What You Can Do

Support Team Tibet
o Sign up at the website below
o Wear the Team Tibet T-shirt
o Organise a Team Tibet Sports Day – contact us to get information on what to do and possibly getting someone from Team Tibet to attend!

Write to local sports people/athletes to encourage them to become supporters of Team Tibet – they can take the message to Beijing with them!

Contact the Organisers of the 2012 London Olympics – express your concerns at London being associated with the Beijing Games

Write to your MP (or better still meet them!) – express your concern at China’s lack of progress on human rights and it’s reluctance to allow free and unbiased media coverage. Click here to find out who your MP is and how to contact them

Contacts

Jacques Rogge – President, International Olympic Committee
Chateau de Vidy, Case Postal 356, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP - Secretary of State
Department for Culture Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH
E: enquiries@culture.gov.uk

Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP – Minister for the Olympics
Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS

Lord Sebastian Coe - Chairman London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games
23rd Floor, One Churchill Place, London E14 5LN
E: enquiries@london2012.com

Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games of the XXIX Olympiad
24 Dong Si Shi Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100007, People’s Republic of China

Links

www.teamtibet.co.uk - UK Team Tibet website. Check for the latest news and updates on events in the UK

www.supportteamtibet.org/ - the International Team Tibet website. Register/Sign-Up Here!

www.olympic.org - International Olympic Committee website, featuring information on Olympic Games, Beijing and London bids

http://en.beijing-2008.org - website of Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee

August 2007