Shameless leaked memo from the IOC

Reporters Without Borders has obtained a leaked internal memo  that International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge sent to all IOC members setting out a communication strategy for the Tibet crisis and the debate about a boycott of the Olympic Games. 

Rogge’s memo displays a level of arrogance and shamelessness that would be stunning, if it didn’t comport with how the IOC has always conducted itself on the issue of Tibet:

The purpose of Rogge’s 17 March memo was to tell all IOC members what position they should take in response to the Tibet crisis and the media “speculation” about a boycott. In his introduction, the IOC president says the events in Tibet are disturbing but will not jeopardize the “success” of the Olympic Games. [...]

The memo, written by the IOC’s public relations department, rules out any direct IOC involvement in resolving the Tibet crisis, even if it recommends that members express their concern. “China’s involvement in Tibet strictly concerns its social and political policy,” the memo says. “It is not related to the country’s hosting of the Games, nor to its relationship with the IOC.”

The memo repeats several times that the Olympic Games are serving as a “catalyst” for a dialogue on Tibet and its independence but rules out IOC involvement in the resolution of the “complex” crisis. The message that Rogge wants to get across is that “The IOC shares the world’s desire for the Chinese government to bring about a peaceful resolution as quickly as possible.” But the memo adds on the next page that the IOC does not raise such matters with countries that host the games.

What Rogge is saying is that the IOC has partnered with the Chinese government, which is implementing a “disturbing” military crackdown in Tibet, but the situation is “complex.”  What is so “complex” about the host government shooting civilians in the streets four months before the opening ceremonies?  In this case, silence is the same as approval, given how the IOC is allowing the Chinese government to relentlessly exploit the Games for Beijing’s own political ends. 

Furthermore, Rogge tries to have it both ways, saying that China’s “involvement” (military occupation?) in Tibet is not the IOC’s concern, while simultaneously bragging that the Games are serving as a “catalyst” for dialogue on Tibet.  Give us a break.  The Games are serving as a lightning rod for Tibetans’ and others’ grievances, supported by NGOs across the world, but this is no thanks to the IOC, which has tried everything it can think of to avoid addressing these issues.

The IOC continues to provide the Chinese government with valuable political cover on the Tibet issue, as well as many others.  No amount of PR work or media “spin” will change that.

(Here is a link to the Hold Fast blog’s interesting take on the same memo.)