Fed: Aussies athletes free to express opinions: AOC head

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2007
Fed: Aussies athletes free to express opinions: AOC head

The Australian Olympic Committee says Australia's athletes at the Beijing Olympics
will be allowed to express their opinions on issues sensitive to China.

Reports in Fairfax newspapers say AOC chief JOHN COATES is denying athletes will be
stopped from speaking .. on issues like China's human rights record or Tibet's independence.

Mr COATES says the AOC's guidelines limit athletes to commenting only on their own
performance and not on that of others .. but they're all entitled to have their own opinion
and to express it.

AAP RTV cdh/ao/af

KEYWORD: OLY OPINIONS (SYDNEY)

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